Houston ISD's state takeover timeline could face step back with addition of four F-rated campuses

August 15, 2026 - 03:34

The timeline for ending the state takeover of Houston ISD may be pushed back again, as four additional campuses have now received failing accountability grades for multiple years. The Texas Education Agency has made it clear that the district cannot regain local control until every school eliminates its streak of poor performance ratings.

Under the current rules, HISD must show that no campus has consecutive years of failing grades before the state steps aside. With the addition of these four schools to the list, the district now faces a longer road to independence. The TEA first intervened in Houston schools in 2023, citing years of low academic achievement and governance issues at the board level.

The new F-rated campuses were identified after the latest round of state assessments. This means that even if other schools improve, these four will keep the district from meeting the exit criteria. Officials with the TEA have not offered a revised timeline, but the added burden suggests that the return to local control could take several more years.

HISD leadership has not yet issued a formal response, but district representatives have previously argued that the accountability system does not fully capture the progress being made in classrooms. They point to gains in reading scores and increased enrollment in advanced courses as evidence of improvement. Still, the state has held firm on its requirement, saying that the data is the only measure that matters.

For parents and community members, the news brings frustration. Many had hoped that the district was nearing the end of the takeover, especially after a year of intense restructuring that included new principals at dozens of schools and a centralized curriculum. Now, with the addition of the four failing campuses, that hope has faded.

The TEA has said it will continue to monitor all campuses and will release updated guidance once the full picture of this year's results is complete. Until then, the district remains under state control, and the clock on local governance has effectively reset.