Policy & legislation
District profile / Texas
Houston ISD
176,727
Students
2024-25 school year
274
Schools
2024-25 school year
$10,446
Spending per student
FY2020-21 · 6% below the Texas median
16.1
Students per teacher
2024-25 · Texas median 14.4
Houston ISD is a public school district based in Houston, Texas, serving 176,727 students in 274 schools. By enrollment it ranks #1 of the 510 Texas districts with 1,000 or more students, making it the largest in the state. Its schools average 645 students each, more than the Texas median of 550. Its superintendent is Mike Miles. It spends about $10,446 per student on day-to-day operations, 6% less than the Texas median. It has roughly 16.1 students per teacher. We've matched 49 news stories to the district.
How Houston compares
HoustonTexas median, districts with 1,000+ students
Spending and staffing
Where the money comes from$2.62 billion in revenue · FY2020-21
Federal 13%State 11%Local 76%
| Measure | Houston | Texas median | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current spending per student | $10,446 | $11,095 | FY2020-21 |
| Instruction spending per student | $5,998 | $6,638 | FY2020-21 |
| Total spending | $2.62 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Total revenue | $2.62 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Teachers (full-time equivalent) | 10,959 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Total staff (full-time equivalent) | 23,960 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Students per teacher | 16.1 | 14.4 | 2024-25 |
| Students per counselor | 511 | 402 | 2024-25 |
Spending: NCES school district finance survey (F-33), FY2020-21. Staffing and enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25. Via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. The Texas median compares districts with 1,000 or more students.
Leadership
Moves tracker →Mike Miles
Source: Texas Education Agency, AskTED, checked 2026-11-09. Report a change
In the news
49 stories matchedBudget & finance
Texas Education Agency orders Houston ISD to fix special education program or risk losing funding
Policy & legislation
With an end in sight to HISD's takeover, readers react to change under Miles
Teaching & learning
When will HISD return to local control? New meetings are being planned.
Policy & legislation
Houston ISD takeover exit may speed up under newly elected Texas governor, experts say
Teaching & learning
TEA orders HISD must fix special education program bugs or face more sanctions
Leadership
From Classroom Aides to Certified Teachers: How HISD Is Growing Its Own Workforce
Teaching & learning
HISD Protesters Target Mike Miles After Hinojosa Win
Teaching & learning
'Time is up, Mike': HISD protesters chalk up message outside Miles' home
Policy & legislation
What Gina Hinojosa's election could mean for HISD's state takeover
Policy & legislation
High costs, dwindling enrollment: Is Houston ISD’s playbook under takeover sustainable?
Policy & legislation
What does Gina Hinojosa’s election victory mean for the Houston ISD takeover
Policy & legislation
What does Governor-Elect Gina Hinojosa’s victory mean for the state’s takeover of HISD
Policy & legislation
Gina Hinojosa could speed up HISD’s exit from state takeover. Here's how.
Policy & legislation
Houston ISD asks court to dismiss teachers' union lawsuit over raises
Leadership
About half of HISD campuses report no library checkouts this year as library staffing shrinks
Teaching & learning
About half of HISD's schools had zero library checkouts this fall
Policy & legislation
Survey: What changes should Houston ISD keep from the state takeover, if any?
Teaching & learning
Family Akili turns hard work into HISD production
Budget & finance
HISD mother raises concerns after water line break impacts Highland Heights Elementary School
Policy & legislation
Texas Senate hearing: Mike Miles defends Houston ISD reforms
Technology & AI
HISD investigating after social media account claims photos were taken inside closed schools
Teaching & learning
HISD opens student-run automotive shop for the public in expansion of career, technical education
Teaching & learning
Houston ISD Students Open Auto Shop at Barbara Jordan Center
Teaching & learning
Op-Ed: Is it Time to Call Mayday at HISD?
School safety
Gun Found on Hogg Middle School Student, Houston ISD Says Campus Was Safe
School safety
Student in custody after gun found at Hogg Middle School, HISD says
Teaching & learning
HISD opens new Sunrise Center for families in need at Worthing High School
Teaching & learning
HISD terminates or reassigns hundreds of employees amid enrollment drop
Teaching & learning
Houston Christian University to Offer Guaranteed Admissions to Eligible HISD Students
Peer districts in Texas
Compare side by side →| District | Students | Schools | Spending per student | Students per teacher | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston ISDHouston · this district | 176,727 | 274 | $10,446 | 16.1 | #1 |
| Dallas ISDDallas | 139,802 | 239 | $12,240 | 14.9 | #2 |
| Cypress-Fairbanks ISDCypress | 117,927 | 94 | $10,081 | 15.4 | #3 |
| Northside ISDSan Antonio | 100,208 | 128 | $9,751 | 14.2 | #4 |
| Katy ISDKaty | 96,111 | 79 | $10,299 | 13.9 | #5 |
Similar-size districts nationally
| District | Students | Spending per student | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| School District of Palm Beach CountyWest Palm Beach, FL | 189,634 | $11,509 | 16.4 |
| Gwinnett CountyLawrenceville, GA | 182,518 | $11,482 | 14.3 |
| Fairfax County Public SchoolsFalls Church, VA | 179,323 | $16,976 | 13.3 |
| Hawaii Department of EducationHonolulu, HI | 167,071 | $16,550 | 13.7 |
Peers are the districts closest in enrollment, so they can still differ in many other ways. Enrollment, school counts and phone numbers are from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25.
Printed from Superintendent's Corner: https://superintendentscorner.com/district-tx-houston-isd