Houston Independent School District

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest public school system in Texas, and the eighth-largest in the United States. It serves most of the city of Houston and several nearby areas, helping many families with their children’s education.

The district’s main office is in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center in Houston. In 2016, the Texas Education Agency praised the school district for meeting its educational standards. This showed that the district was doing a good job of teaching students.

History

20th century

The Brunner Independent School District became part of Houston schools in 1913-1914.

Houston ISD started in 1923 after the Texas Legislature decided to separate city schools from city government.

In the 1920s, the district grew to include more students, especially black students. New schools were built for them. By the 1930s, the number of students in Houston's public schools had grown from 5,500 in 1888 to over 8,850 in 1927.

In 1960, twelve black students joined schools that had only been for white students before. This was a peaceful step toward integrating schools. During the 1960s, the school board worked to integrate schools, which led to protests from some students and parents who thought it was too slow. In response, the district made changes to school areas.

In the 1970s, the district kept working to integrate schools, but some neighborhoods protested. By the late 1970s, a new program called the Vanguard Program started at River Oaks Elementary School to support gifted students.

In 1982, the Stafford Municipal School District was created, and Houston ISD no longer served most of Stafford.

In the 1990s, the district reorganized schools to balance student numbers better. In 1995, a new system of geographic districts was created.

21st century

2000s

In 2005, many students from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina joined Houston ISD schools. The district helped these students adjust and learn.

In 2007, an investigation looked into business dealings between a vendor and the district.

2010s

In 2011, the North Forest Independent School District closed and joined Houston ISD.

In 2013, Houston ISD won a national award for its efforts in education.

In 2016, the district changed the names of some schools that were named after people linked to the Confederacy.

In 2019, the Texas Education Agency looked into issues with the school board.

2020s

In 2020, the school board did not choose a new superintendent.

Millard House became the new superintendent in 2021.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the district decided to require masks, even though the governor had said schools could not require them.

In 2023, the Texas Education Agency took control of Houston ISD, replacing the superintendent and school board with new leaders.

Bilingual education, magnet, and vanguard schools

The Houston Independent School District helps students who speak languages other than English at home. The district brings in teachers from many countries and offers support for students who speak Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, Nepali, Urdu, and Swahili.

HISD also has special programs called magnet and vanguard programs. Magnet programs have special focuses, like performing arts or science, and attract students from all over the district. Vanguard programs are for students who are very talented and are available for students across HISD. Some schools also have neighborhood vanguard programs for talented students who live in that area. These programs began in 1975 to help schools include students from different backgrounds. Over time, they became popular for providing high-quality education. There are many magnet schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, some of which only accept students in their special programs.

Student body

In the 2017-2018 school year, the Houston Independent School District had 214,175 students. Most students were Hispanic American (61.84%), followed by African American (24.02%), White American (8.7%), and Asian American (4.05%). Many students, about 75%, came from families that were economically disadvantaged.

In 2015, some students were recognized for being very talented. Students from wealthier families were more likely to be labeled as gifted and talented than those from less wealthy backgrounds. The district worked to make sure all students had fair chances to be in these special programs.

Many students spoke languages other than English at home. Spanish was the most common, with over 59,700 students speaking it. Other languages included Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, Nepali, and Urdu. In the 2015-2016 school year, most students (58%) went to schools in their neighborhood, while others attended different schools within the district or in other districts.

The number of students in the district decreased by about 4,000 in 2018. Officials thought part of the reason was that some students went to charter schools instead. The district started advertising to try to bring more students back.

Staff and faculty demographics

As of 2007, about 25% of the teachers in the Houston Independent School District came from the Teach for America program. In 2019, the school board decided to stop working with this program.

Governance

As of June 2023, Mike Miles is the superintendent of schools. The members of the HISD Board of Education are elected, but since June 2023, a state-appointed board of managers now controls the district.

As of June 2026, the appointed board of managers includes:

• Ric Campo
• Angela Lemond Flowers
• Michelle Cruz Arnold
• Janette Garza Lindner
• Paula Mendoza
• Edgar Colón
• Marty Goossen
• Lauren Gore
• Marcos Rosales

Superintendents

Former superintendent Rod Paige helped improve school scores. Kaye Stripling took over when Rod Paige went to work in Washington, D.C. with United States President George W. Bush. After Stripling left, Abelardo Saavedra became superintendent in 2004. Terry Grier led from 2009, followed by Richard A. Carranza in 2016. Dr. Grenita Lathan served as interim superintendent in 2018 before moving to lead Springfield Public Schools (Illinois) in 2021.

Billy Reagan was superintendent until 1986, after which Joan Raymond took over until 1991.

Political divisions

In 1994, the HISD board decided to split the district into 12 numbered areas, with each area having one to three high schools. One of these was an alternative district.

Before summer 2005, HISD had 13 administrative areas. By fall 2005, the number was cut to five.

By 2010, HISD schools were grouped into elementary, middle, and high school offices.

Before 2005, schools were organized into "Regional Districts," with five regions: Central, East, North, South, and West. Earlier, there were even more geographic districts.

Taxation

In 2010, among school districts in Harris County, Houston ISD had the lowest taxation rate.

Support services

In 1948, federal money became available for school lunch programs, but the district chose not to take part. Because of this, local schoolchildren didn’t get free or reduced-price lunches until 1967.

In the 2000s, HISD started a program called "Breakfast in the Classroom." Later, this changed to a free breakfast program in cafeterias. The Houston Press wrote about possible mistakes in handling money for this program, leading the State of Texas to start an investigation. In 2005, Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra announced the program would stop. By 2006, HISD brought back its free breakfast programs.

Houston ISD television channel

HISD TV is an educational cable access channel for the Houston Independent School District. Families in the area can watch it on their local cable provider.

You can find it on:

• Channel 18 of Comcast
• Channel 99 of AT&T U-verse
• Channel 76 of Phonoscope Communications
• Channel 96 of Suddenlink
• Channel 18 of TV Max

HISD coverage area

The Houston Independent School District serves many areas in and around Houston. It includes all of Bellaire, West University Place, and Southside Place. It also covers most of Houston and parts of several nearby places such as Harris County parts of Missouri City, a bit of Jacinto City, small parts of Hunters Creek Village, Piney Point Village, and Pearland.

All of this area is part of the taxation area for the Houston Community College System. Before 1982, the district also included a small part of Stafford, but Stafford created its own school district in 1977.

Transportation

Houston ISD gives school bus rides to students who live far from their school. Students must live at least 2 miles away or need to cross hard places to get to school. This help is for students in special education, but pre-kindergarten students do not get bus rides.

Schools

Main article: List of Houston Independent School District schools

In the Houston Independent School District, students from kindergarten to fifth grade go to elementary school. Students from sixth to eighth grade go to middle school, and those from ninth to twelfth grade go to high school. Some elementary schools also include sixth grade.

Every student in the district goes to a specific elementary school, middle school, and high school based on where they live. The district has special programs and school transfer options for students who want a different type of education or are not happy with their assigned school.

Dress codes

Since 2013, more than 230 schools in the Houston Independent School District have asked students to wear school uniforms or follow a set style of clothing.

In 2006, over twenty high schools had this rule too. One school, Lamar High School, had more White students than any other group. Nine high schools in the district did not require uniforms.

Key Middle School was the first to suggest uniforms in 1991, though they were not required then. In the early 1990s, schools started making their own dress rules. By the start of the 1994-1995 school year, 37 elementary and middle schools had uniforms or set styles of clothing.

Administration building

The Houston Independent School District's administration building is called the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. It is in northwest Houston and opened in spring 2006. It is named after Hattie Mae White. She was the first African American board member and public official elected in Texas since Reconstruction.

The old administration building, called the Hattie Mae White Administration Building, was used from 1969 until March 2006. It had a unique circular design with indoor tropical areas. The building was sold, demolished, and replaced with a commercial property that includes a Costco store. Before that, the old Sam Houston High School building was the district’s headquarters. It was demolished in the 1970s.

Athletic facilities

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has many places where students can play sports. In the past, they used West End Park and Robertson Stadium for games.

Today, HISD manages three main sports centers: Herman A. Barnett Sports Complex, Joe K. Butler Sports Complex, and the Delmar-Dyer Sports Complex. These centers have spaces for football, basketball, soccer, and track events, with seating for fans.

One special stadium, Delmar Stadium, can hold many people for football games. In 2013, HISD announced plans to build a new fieldhouse there.

Notable employees and teachers

The Houston Independent School District has had many well-known employees and teachers. Lyndon B. Johnson, a teacher there, later became the 36th President of the United States. Laura Bush taught at Kennedy Elementary School before she became the First Lady of the United States. Other famous people include Van G. Garrett, a poet, and Alberto Gonzales, who became the United States Attorney General. Edison E. Oberholtzer, a former superintendent, started and became the first president of the University of Houston. Rod Paige, another former superintendent, was the United States Secretary of Education.