COPPERAS COVE – A new CCISD campus has received a prestigious nod on its performance from a national group.

Thursday, Copperas Cove ISD announced Copperas Cove High School has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best High Schools in the United States.

“This award has been a long time coming for Copperas Cove High School,” said Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins. “That campus is full of educators who are passionate about making an impact in students’ lives and this award recognizes the work they do daily. To see a campus focused on workforce preparation and dual credit courses receive the same recognition as heavy-Advanced Placement schools proves that the Bulldawg way makes a real impact on our students.”

The U.S. News & World Report evaluates almost 18,000 high schools across the country, including proficiency on state-mandated assessments in math, reading and science. Other measures include performance on AP exams and graduation rates.

Sixty-four percent of CCHS students were found proficient in reading and 60% in science, both of which are on pace with or ahead of the statewide marks.

"We are blessed to be recognized by the US News & World Report as being a premier high school in nation,” CCHS principal Jeff Shannon said. “Copperas Cove High School has elite educators who serve a student population who perform at a distinctly high level. This is a testament to the hard work that occurs on campus each day. It is an honor to be recognized in the top 40% of high school campuses in the nation. The robust instructional courses available to students to include AP, Dual Credit, and Early College programs provides unique advanced opportunities for our students to excel.”

Copperas Cove High School has seen more than 130 students earn at least one associate degree through dual credit courses, earning almost 6,300 college credits during the 2025-26 school year alone. The campus also offers more than 50 industry-based certifications to students across a dozen career pathways, preparing them for exciting opportunities beyond graduation.

“CCHS has been a dominant campus for many years with established accountability standards, so it doesn't surprise me that we were able to accomplish this level of recognized success,” Shannon said. “It's no secret that our students and staff are the best. They live and breathe success every day, because that's the Bulldawg way.”

In 2026, the Texas Education Agency awarded CCHS an 89 rating for the third consecutive year. That rating places Copperas Cove High School among the top-performing high schools in Texas. With 97% of 2025 graduates deemed college, career & military-ready by the TEA, CCISD estimates 99% of 2026 graduates earned the designation when they walked across the stage.

For more information on the programs and courses available at Copperas Cove High School, parents can visit CCHS.CCISD.com.