How HISD Works and How to Get Involved | Community Exchange
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How HISD Works and How to Get Involved
A guide to Houston ISD governance, school choice, parent organizations, funding, and how to make your voice heard at board meetings -- including what TEA intervention means for families.
Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the 8th largest in the United States. It serves 187,000 students across 274 schools. This guide breaks down how HISD is governed, what the Texas Education Agency intervention means for your family, how school funding actually works, how to navigate magnet programs and school transfers, and how to participate in decisions that affect your child's education. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or neighbor who cares about public schools, this is your entry point.
Houston ISD is governed by a 9-member board of trustees elected from single-member districts to 4-year terms. The board hires the superintendent, sets the budget, and approves policy. In June 2023, the Texas Education Agency appointed a state manager and a new board of managers, replacing the elected board. This guide explains what that means, what parents can still do, and how the system works from the classroom to the state capitol. HISD operates 274 schools serving 187,000 students with an annual budget of approximately $6 billion. About 75% of HISD students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
