Teaching & learning
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 46 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 2026-10-19. Report a change
In the news
46 stories matchedPolicy & legislation
Want to end HISD's state takeover? Check Gina for yes, Greg for no. | Editorial
Teaching & learning
Houston School District Breach Exposes 38,000 [2026]
Teaching & learning
HISD’s Top High Schools to Operate With Greater Autonomy Under New Partnership
Policy & legislation
A History of No Child Left Behind and the HISD Takeover
Budget & finance
HISD students now have a guaranteed path to college, and money to pay for it
Teaching & learning
See the best HISD elementary and middle schools in new report
Teaching & learning
Two Houston schools rank among Texas' top 5 elementary schools. One is No. 1, U.S. News reports
Teaching & learning
HISD is sharing its curriculum for free as Miles’ model spreads beyond Texas
Teaching & learning
~+@+18=)**Houston ISD teacher's viral video sparks concern
Policy & legislation
State officials say Houston ISD takeover could end as early as the end of this school year
Teaching & learning
AP class enrollment doubles, HISD still filling positions
Teaching & learning
Who has left Houston Independent School District since September 2025?
Infrastructure
Houston Schools receives grant, board approves new buses
Policy & legislation
Commission of politicians, community members releases report on state takeover of HISD
Teaching & learning
HISD launches new 'Virtual Launchpad' program even as its online learning enrollment dips
Teaching & learning
HISD sees more virtual learning competition as more districts launch programs
Teaching & learning
Houston ISD launches “Connective Unlock My Benefits” to link families to community resources
Policy & legislation
HISD takeover “diminished, degraded, destroyed” schools: Citizen commission report
Budget & finance
HISD tax rate vote: Houston ISD board makes a slight decrease in tax rate official
Budget & finance
Houston ISD board of managers approve tax rate for FY 2026-27
Teaching & learning
HISD reveals new tool that helps connect families to resources
Budget & finance
New 81-page report raises questions about HISD takeover, from teacher departures to taxpayer spending
Budget & finance
HISD board votes to make lower tax rate official
Policy & legislation
Assessing the State Takeover of HISD, a Report Finds it Wanting
Policy & legislation
New report criticizes HISD takeover; district points to improved school ratings
Teaching & learning
HISD will cut health care plans from 7 to 4 as higher premiums hit employees in 2027
Policy & legislation
New report claims HISD takeover has failed, but district points to academic gains
Teaching & learning
HISD employees will face fewer health plans and higher premiums
Teaching & learning
Hot classrooms, repeated complaints: HISD families demand lasting A/C fixes
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