Watch: Research, Policy and Practice Leaders Unite to Decode Houston's Education Progress
Houston’s public schools are in the midst of one of the most significant turnarounds in recent memory. New state data show that 145,000 more students now attend A- or B-rated schools compared to just two years ago—a shift education leaders say could reshape the city’s future.
The Texas Education Agency released its 2025 A–F accountability ratings this week, offering the most detailed picture yet of how local schools are faring. To unpack the numbers, Good Reason Houston convened a panel of experts across research, policy, and district partnerships.
This isn’t just about ratings—it’s about the opportunities those ratings unlock for kids. Entire communities are gaining access to stronger schools. The challenge now is sustaining and expanding that momentum."
The Numbers Behind the Change
The ratings reveal steep gains across the region:
- 67% of students in Houston now attend an A or B campus, up from less than half in 2023. That’s higher than both the state average and other large Texas districts.
- Only 12% of students are in D or F schools, down from nearly one-third two years ago.
- Black students in particular saw a striking shift: in 2023, 42% were enrolled in low-rated schools. Today, just 15% are.
Some districts posted especially sharp improvements. In Aldine ISD, the share of students in top-rated schools more than doubled, from 33% in 2023 to 76% in 2025. And in Houston ISD, schools under the district’s “New Education System” reforms vaulted from 6% of students in A or B campuses to 74% today.
Still, not all schools are on an upward path. Twenty-six campuses across three districts remain stuck with failing marks, requiring urgent intervention.
Policy and Practice in Motion
Progress on the ground is colliding with changes in state policy. Trista Bishop-Watt, Good Reason Houston’s director of government relations, told attendees that lawmakers are weighing adjustments to the accountability system, including through-year assessments and refinements to how College, Career, and Military Readiness is measured.
At the same time, districts are deploying new tools to sustain improvements. “Ratings are a signal, but what matters is how districts respond,” said Kellie Thompson, who directs district partnerships. She pointed to Aldine and HISD as examples of systems using bold turnaround models to expand access to higher-quality schools.
Questions From the Community
The event also surfaced broader debates about fairness and accountability. Should all readiness indicators count the same, or should dual credit courses carry more weight? How can families hold districts accountable when test-score growth stalls? And what happens when testing policies shift, as with HISD’s biology exams?
Gill and his colleagues offered research-based answers but acknowledged that the conversation is ongoing.
A Region at a Crossroads
The 2025 ratings mark a turning point for Houston’s schools, but education leaders warn the city can’t take its progress for granted.
“Houston has shown what’s possible when schools, districts, and communities rally around student success,” Gill said. “The next step is making sure these gains last—and reach every neighborhood.”
