UT Tyler University Academy – Palestine Ranked Best in County by Niche

November 8, 2024 | Hannah Buchanan

The University of Texas at Tyler University Academy – Palestine campus has been ranked No. 1 in the “2025 Best Public Elementary Schools in Anderson County” category by Niche, an online ranking and review site.

“This incredible recognition is a testament to our commitment to educational excellence and the
meaningful impact we’re making in the lives of our students every day,” said Dr. Jo Ann Simmons,
UA superintendent. “This honor belongs to our entire University Academy family, whose hard work
and belief in our mission make milestones like this possible.”

The district overall was third among best school districts in Smith County.

The UT Tyler University Academy is a K-12 public university laboratory charter school with
campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine. UT Tyler UA offers STEM curriculum in a hands-on
learning environment.

“We’re so grateful for our teachers’ dedication, our students’ efforts, the guidance of our district
leaders, and the partnership of our parents,” said Shelly Parsons, UA – Palestine interim campus
director. “We’re so proud of this achievement and our school community for making University
Academy an inspiring place to learn and grow.”

Niche helps millions of students and families find and enroll in the right school for them. For
additional information, visit niche.com/.

The UT Tyler University Academy provides free, innovative and rigorous K-12 education using
Project-Based Learning designed to prepare students for university study and the STEM workforce.
Operated by the UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology, the district currently serves more
than 1,200 students. For more information, schedule a campus visit or go to: uttua.org/.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT
Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students.
Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has
unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent
patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World
Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.