HOUSTON (AP) _ Houston’s public school district is a finalist for more than a half-million dollars in college scholarships for its high school seniors.

The scholarships come in a private foundation’s annual recognition of student achievement gains in big-city school districts.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is to reveal the winner of the 2013 Broad (BROHD) Prize for Urban Education on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The foundation was founded by Los Angeles-based philanthropist Eli Broad and his wife, Edythe.

The Houston Independent School District won the first Broad Prize in 2002 and was a 2012 finalist. It’s a finalist again with districts from Riverside County, Calif., San Diego and Cumberland County, N.C.

The $550,000 top prize goes to the district showing strongest student improvements while reducing achievement gaps among low-income and minority students.