HOUSTON, Texas — The Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest school system in Texas, recorded gains in student performance on state assessments following a 2023 state takeover that replaced its elected board with a state-appointed administration, according to district data and officials.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) assumed control of HISD in 2023 after years of academic underperformance at multiple campuses, including Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston’s Fifth Ward. The intervention installed a board of managers and appointed Superintendent Mike Miles to lead the district.
District data showed improvements in reading and mathematics scores among students in grades 3 through 8 on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) over the three school years following the takeover. High school students also recorded year-over-year gains from 2023 to 2026 in algebra, English, biology, and U.S. history, narrowing gaps with state averages, according to figures provided by the district.
HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said the reforms focused on improving academic outcomes and student achievement. He said the district implemented the New Education System model, which introduced centralized curriculum standards and structured classroom interventions.
District data showed that the number of campuses rated D or F declined from 121 in the 2022–23 school year to 18 D-rated campuses and zero F-rated campuses after the reforms. The number of A- and B-rated campuses increased from 93 to 197 during the same period.
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the Houston NAACP, and the League of United Latin American Citizens, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice alleging that the state takeover removed locally elected representation from communities of color.
State officials and supporters of the intervention said the changes were necessary to improve student performance and accountability. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office said the district’s results demonstrate improvements in student achievement.
The state takeover of HISD is scheduled to remain in place through at least June 1, 2027, under a timeline set by the Texas Education Agency.
