Past principals include Dr. Andrew Palacios, Tiffany Huitt (who was promoted to DISD Executive Director), Jovan Carisa Wells, and Richard White.

Its mathematics courses range in complexity from Geometry and Pre-AP Algebra II (the lowest-level courses offered) to AP Calculus BC, AP Stats, and its own unique Advanced Topics of the Theory of Applied Mathematics (A.T.T.A.M.)

In 2006, SEM was visited by President George W. Bush for excellence in education and the school's philosophy of emphasizing math and science,[8][9] something he stressed in his 2006 State of the Union address.

[11] In 2012, it was ranked the number one high school in the North Texas area by Children at Risk, a research and advocacy institute dedicated to helping children: In 2018, SEM was ranked as the 13th best public high school in America by U.S. News & World Report.

[3] In 2019, SEM was ranked as the number 1 best public high school in Texas by the U.S. News & World Report.