Houston ISD officials are moving forward with a proposal that would eliminate or relocate several magnet and career and technical education (CTE) programs at high schools across the district, raising concerns from educators and families about access and long-term impacts on neighborhood campuses.
Under the plan advanced by Superintendent Mike Miles, magnet and CTE pathways at campuses within roughly a 30-minute drive of the Barbara Jordan Career Center would be consolidated or redirected. Schools affected include Kashmere, Northside, Heights, Furr, Mickey Leland, North Forest, Sam Houston, and Waltrip high schools.
Many of these campuses have been designated as New Education System (NES) schools and have already experienced significant changes in staffing and curricular programming. The proposed cuts would eliminate programs such as web development, graphic design, entrepreneurship, and culinary arts, which offer industry certifications, dual-credit opportunities, and non-traditional career pathways for students.
District leaders have said the changes are intended to better align programs with workforce demand and reduce duplication across campuses. The proposal also intersects with broader district facilities planning. In November, Miles announced plans to finance a new CTE center using approximately $180 million in lease-revenue bonds, a financing mechanism that does not require voter approval. The announcement followed the defeat of a $4.4 billion HISD bond proposal in 2024, which included funding for school upgrades and new facilities.
Some community members argue that removing magnet programs from surrounding schools could increase enrollment pressure at Barbara Jordan, strengthening the case for additional CTE centers while leaving other campuses with fewer enrollment anchors. Magnet programs have historically helped schools maintain stable enrollment by attracting students from across the district.
HISD has scheduled information sessions from January 6-8 to gather feedback on the proposal. Final decisions will be made by the HISD board of managers, which was appointed by the Texas Education Agency following the state takeover of the district in 2023.
