tests. In 2015-2016 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results, 85% of students in HEB ISD met Level II Satisfactory standards, compared with 77% in Region 11 and 75% in the state of Texas. The average SAT score of the class of 2015 was 1488, and the average ACT score was 22.2. In 2016, 23 high school juniors were recognized through the National Merit Scholarship Program and the National Hispanic Recognition Program based on PSAT/NMSQT scores. In 2017 and 2018, HEB ISD was among the 5% of school systems that received Texas Education Agency's post-secondary readiness distinction. Demographics In the 2015-2016 school year, the school district had a total of 22,780 students, ranging from early childhood education and pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The class of 2015 included 1,469 graduates; the annual drop-out rate across grades 9-12 was less than 1%. HEB ISD has been recognized as the second most diverse school district in Texas and the 18th (of 7,719 total) most diverse school district in the country. As of the 2015-2016 school year, the ethnic distribution of the school district was 39.2% White, 29.3% Hispanic, 18.3% African American, 6.9% Asian, 2.3% Pacific Islander, 0.5% American Indian, and 3.4% from two or more races. Economically disadvantaged students made up 52.8% of the student body. Curriculum and "Schools of Choice" Programs Curriculum programs offered are generally uniform throughout district schools. Core classes are supplemented by "Schools of Choice" or "Edge" programs, which focus on providing unique opportunities for students to develop their skills to compete in the global job market. These internationally oriented electives have been recognized for the unique opportunities they offer to students. "Schools of Choice" programs accept applications from students who live outside of Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD's boundaries; residents of the HEB area are given first priority. Students who are not residents must provide transportation and, for elementary programs, pay tuition. A Core Knowledge-based curriculum has been offered at every elementary school in the district since 2005. Core Knowledge curriculum covers a broad and consistent range of topics that include large amounts of culturally significant works, people, events, and concepts. Students in grades 7-8 at Central Junior High and Harwood Junior High also participate in Core Knowledge-based classes. Meadow Creek, Spring Garden, and Viridian elementary schools offer full-day tuition-based Core Knowledge Pre-Kindergarten. University-level courses The District has offered the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program at both its high