Skip to main content

College of Education Teacher Preparation Programs Move Up in the Ranks

College of Education Student Teacher Candidate in the Classroom

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) Teacher Prep Review top five national ranking includes University of Houston College of Education Undergraduate Elementary and Undergraduate Secondary Teacher Preparation Programs.  Of note, this is the second year that the Undergraduate Elementary Teacher Preparation program ranked in the top ten.  This year, three University of Houston College of Education programs are ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Current College of Education NCTQ Standings are:

  • No. 4 for Undergraduate Elementary Teacher Preparation Program
  • No. 5 for Undergraduate Secondary Teacher Preparation Program
  • No. 18 for Graduate Elementary Teacher Preparation Program

The NCTQ is an organization that strives to increase the number of effective teachers through advocacy of teaching policy reforms.  NCTQ originally analyzed 788 elementary programs, 824 secondary programs and 96 special education programs. The revised rankings are based on an NCTQ analysis that took place between October 2014 and February 2015 in response to its requests to 1,202 providers. 

“Efforts in improvement from students, faculty, and staff continue to push the College of Education to new heights,” said Dean Robert McPherson. “With the high demands for quality teachers in the greater Houston area, we are proud to produce such distinguished graduates.”

Currently, there are more than 1,500 UH College of Education students preparing to become teachers. The College’s four-semester field experience plan includes approximately 1,000 field hours which incorporates a full year of student teaching.  In order to successfully complete the program, teacher candidates must demonstrate through evidence that the children they instruct are learning.

These achievements in the College compliment other top rankings including a number one in graduate online programs from the U.S. News & World Report.  For details on the NCTQ report, visit http://www.nctq.org/dmsView/Press_Release