The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has reported improvements in student grades and test scores across its more than 270 campuses since a state takeover in 2023. This intervention by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was initiated due to years of academic underperformance. Data shows that students in grades 3 through 8 have made substantial gains in reading and math on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests. High school students also showed significant year-over-year improvements in subjects including algebra and English.
HISD Superintendent Mike Miles stated that the focus of the intervention was on student achievement. Under his leadership, the district implemented the New Education System (NES) model, which emphasizes a centralized curriculum and specialized classes. Prior to the intervention, HISD had 121 campuses rated D or F; currently, there are 18 D-rated schools and no F-rated campuses, with the number of A- and B-rated campuses increasing from 93 to 197.
Despite these improvements, critics have raised concerns about the racial implications of the takeover, claiming it was a discriminatory action against a district predominantly serving communities of color. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU of Texas and the Houston NAACP, have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice, arguing that the state’s actions undermined local voting power.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has praised the intervention, stating that it has led to meaningful improvements in student achievement. The state takeover is set to continue through at least June 1, 2027, as per the timeline established by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.