The Houston Independent School District (HISD) began the new school year touting a historic win: For the first time, no HISD campus holds an F rating.
But alongside the celebration, parents and community members pressed leaders on enrollment dips, leadership churn and abrupt changes at certain schools.
Gains in accountability ratings
Superintendent Mike Miles reported that HISD has eliminated all F-rated campuses, dropping from 56 failing campuses two years ago to zero. The number of A and B schools has more than doubled in the same period, from 93 in 2023 to 197 in 2025, putting an additional 80,000 students in top-rated campuses.
“I wish people could just honor our kids for a moment and respect their success,” Miles said.
Miles framed the results as proof that “geography no longer dictates destiny” in Houston public schools, noting that historically struggling schools were concentrated in low-income neighborhoods and areas with high numbers of English learners. A map of 2023 performance showed clusters of D- and F-rated schools in underserved areas, compared to this year’s map, where most schools in those regions now carry B ratings or higher.
In addition to higher overall ratings, Miles said HISD has narrowed achievement gaps. Since 2023, the white-Black achievement gap in the 3-8 STAAR Math test has shrunken from 41 percentage points in 2023 to 29 in 2025, while the white-Hispanic gap fell from 30 to 23. Reading gaps also decreased, although Miles acknowledged they remain too large.
Miles set a new goal: Within three years, he wants all 273 HISD campuses rated A or B, making HISD the only large urban district in the U.S. to reach that mark.
During the public comment period, however, parents and community members raised concerns about HISD’s enrollment numbers and frequent leadership changes, which have persisted for the last two years. Fred Woods, whose daughter started her third year at a New Education School (NES) campus, said the first week of school has been far from ideal.
“Last year’s principal exited alongside her uncertified teacher,” Woods said. “Having an uncertified teacher is like having surgery performed by somebody who didn’t go to med school. This democracy depends on the highest standard of teachers.
“Your smoke and mirrors to hide the failures of the new ‘miseducation’ system by manipulating data to rig test score ratings further proves we are headed in the wrong direction.”
Recognizing top-improving schools
The school district honored three schools for the largest academic gains in the 2025 Accountability Ratings:
- Valley West Elementary jumped from an F to an A in one year: The turnaround began under former principal Teri Hampton, who is now leading Jane Long Middle School, and continues with new Principal Nichaelia Tucker.
- Browning Elementary’s rise from a C to an A is credited to principal Dr. Elena Silva-Leal’s leadership.
- Principal Shanta Creeks led Milne Elementary, which improved from an F to a B, just shy of an A.
Board members’ self-evaluation
Using the Lone Star Governance framework, HISD board members self-evaluate their progress every three months. “Improved Board Governance,” with a focus on student outcomes, is one of the key takeover exit criteria for HISD.
Board members scored themselves 60 out of 80 in this quarter. They scored 35 out of 45 points in In visions and goals, a perfect 15 in one “progress and accountability” section, a four out of five in the other and cut nine out of 15 points in the “systems and processes” section.
Financial stewardship
Board members highlighted a $150 million savings in future interest payments achieved by early debt repayment and refinancing at lower rates.
HISD’s finance team earned the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials and the Government Finance Officers Association.
“We got a lot of work to do. No story is perfect,” said newly appointed board member Lauren Gore. “We have to continue doing our job and getting to work and doing the basics well to make sure that we keep this district strong financially.”
Public comments and concerns
Parents of Durham Elementary School students raised concerns about sudden curriculum changes prompted by the school’s low grade in the 2024-25 A-F ratings. They had believed the school maintained a “C” rating, but were surprised to learn that it had been designated a “school of focus” due to perceived significant drops in performance.
“Parents were reassured that months of careful planning had prepared teachers and students alike for a smooth start,” said parent John Garza. “We are not opposed to necessary changes, but we are opposed to poorly planned disruption without proper support and resources.”
City Council Member Mario Castillo also requested meetings with HISD leadership to address parent concerns about the timing and communication of the changes.
“My ask tonight is to meet to better understand the support that will be provided moving forward, to include teacher communication, on-campus support and to ensure that as more decisions are made, HISD works with the parents,” Castillo said.
