School Profile & Leadership

School Name Carnegie Vanguard High School (CVHS)

Address 1501 Taft Street, Houston, TX 77019

Grades 9–12

Enrollment 881 students

Student-Teacher Ratio ~28:1

Principal Ramon Moss

Mascot Rhino

Website carnegie.houstonisd.org

School Profile Learn more about Carnegie's 2025-2026 School Profile

Curriculum Pre-AP and AP courses in core subjects; students must complete at least 10 AP courses; year-long independent research project

Academic Recognition Consistently ranked among top 100 U.S. public high schools (U.S. News, Newsweek, Washington Post); 1st in greater Houston, 5th in Texas and 42nd nationally (2025 US News)

Graduation Rate & Scores 100% on-time graduation; average SAT 1317; average ACT 28

National Awards National Blue Ribbon School (2008, Nominated 2025)

State Awards Texas Education Agency Exemplary Status (2007–2025); Texas Business & Education Coalition Honor Roll (2006–2025)

Local Recognition Children at Risk – Top-Rated School in Greater Houston (multiple years on a row)

Student Demographics 33.4% Hispanic, 32.9% Asian, 19.4% White, 11% African American, 3% Multiracial; 54% female, 46% male

Community Service Students must complete 100 hours prior to graduation

Extracurricular Activities Clubs (AI, Animation, Arts & Crafts, Aviation, Beta, Book, Business & Entrepreneurship, etc.); UIL Sports: Track & Field, Volleyball, Baseball, Cross Country, Tennis, Soccer.

Admissions Magnet school; open to HISD GT-identified students; competitive lottery-based process

Mission Statement / Motto “Challenging the gifted, inspiring the future.”

---

The Leadership in CVHS

Position	Name	Background & Contributions
Principal	Ramon Moss	Principal since 2004; led CVHS to national recognition; fosters academic excellence and collaborative school culture; under his leadership, CVHS became a National Blue Ribbon School and consistently ranks among top U.S. high schools.
Assistant Principal	Juan Garner	Longest-serving staff member (since 1996); helped transition from Vanguard program to CVHS; former AP World History and AP European History teacher; became assistant principal in 2008 while continuing to teach AP African American History.
Assistant Principal	Melissa Matsu	Joined in 2006 as pre-AP Biology teacher; holds a bachelors degree from the University of St. Thomas, and a Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Houston; key in shaping academic programs and instructional strategies.
Magnet Coordinator	Lamia Moumni	Joined in 2005. Former AP French teacher. Magnet program coordinator since 2015: instrumental in refining magnet program criteria to balance academic rigor and inclusivity and led the Magnet School of America certification for CVHS. Holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology (University of Houston honor’s college) and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction (University of Houston).
Teacher specialist	Stephanie Chen	Joined in 2010. Instrumental in expanding access to advanced math curriculum and continues to teach Precalculus BC and Advanced Mathematical Topics; provides instructional support for teachers; recognized for her expertise in mathematics and engineering and her passion for teaching. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Psychology from Rice University and a Master’s degree in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.