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, larger than about 100% of them. Its schools average 645 students each, more than the Texas median of 550. We've matched 5 news stories to the district.
In the News
5 stories
- Houston ISD state takeover could end this school year, but elected trustees face a long road to full control
To end the takeover, the district is required to improve school board governance, have no multi-year failing campuses, and update the special education department so it is compliant with state standards.
The post...
- High costs, dwindling enrollment: Is Houston ISD’s playbook under takeover sustainable?
The high price tag, coupled with less state funding from students leaving the district, raises questions about whether the academic improvements are sustainable in the long run and whether other districts can afford to...
- Colorado district will eliminate Bible-based content in new reading curriculum, officials say
District officials in the Montezuma-Cortez district will remove Christian faith-based content from elementary reading lessons provided by the Houston school district in Texas.
- Houston ISD board unanimously approves controversial Bible-infused curriculum
Adopting the state-approved Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for elementary students will come with a funding boost of more than $3 million for the district, which also approved a $2 billion operating budget on...
- What’s in store for the Memphis school takeover? Houston’s timeline offers clues.
Top Tennessee Republicans have heralded Houston’s intervention as a model they want to replicate in the Memphis-Shelby County district. In the first two years of the takeover, more Houston students achieved proficiency...
| District | Students | Schools | Students / school | Size rank in state | Stories |
|---|
| Houston ISD Houston, TX | 176,727 | 274 | 645 | #1 | 5 |
| Dallas ISD Dallas, TX | 139,802 | 239 | 585 | #2 | 1 |
| Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Cypress, TX | 117,927 | 94 | 1,255 | #3 | 0 |
| Northside ISD San Antonio, TX | 100,208 | 128 | 783 | #4 | 0 |
| Katy ISD Katy, TX | 96,111 | 79 | 1,217 | #5 | 0 |
| Fort Bend ISD Sugar Land, TX | 79,663 | 83 | 960 | #6 | 0 |
| Conroe ISD Conroe, TX | 72,914 | 67 | 1,088 | #7 | 0 |
Similar-Size Districts Nationally
| District | Students | Schools | Students / school | Size rank in state | Stories |
|---|
| Houston ISD Houston, TX | 176,727 | 274 | 645 | #1 | 5 |
| School District of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL | 189,634 | 234 | 810 | #5 | 0 |
| Gwinnett County Lawrenceville, GA | 182,518 | 141 | 1,294 | #1 | 0 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools Falls Church, VA | 179,323 | 223 | 804 | #1 | 1 |
| Hawaii Department of Education Honolulu, HI | 167,071 | 296 | 564 | #1 | 1 |
| Wake County Schools Cary, NC | 163,325 | 198 | 825 | #1 | 0 |
| Montgomery County Public Schools Rockville, MD | 159,181 | 211 | 754 | #1 | 0 |
Peers are the districts closest in enrollment. Enrollment, school counts and phone numbers are from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25. Spending and staffing comparisons are coming.
