Education
BY MELISSA ENAJE
Education Edition
2025
Readers, welcome to the annual CI Education Edition! This year’s special edition of Community Impact explores key changes shaping classrooms across Houston ISD. Our lead story examines the two-year extension of the state takeover of HISD, looking at where the district stands academically, operationally and systemically compared to before the Texas Education Agency took over in 2023. Mental health is another growing concern we examine in this edition. Districts continue to see rising rates of anxiety and depression, prompting calls for more resources and support. A recent report by the Baker Institute showcases these challenges in HISD students and a conversation with nonpro t Communities In Schools breaks down the solution. We also spotlight Cycle Houston, a local nonpro t using cycling to promote student well- being and increased literacy. We cover the expansion of charter schools across Greater Houston, including a look into one of the newest schools approved for the 2026-27 school year. Lastly, we round out this guide with a breakdown of new education laws passed during the 89th Texas legislative session.
What's inside
Take a peek at how this nonpro t is helping to increase child literacy rates (Page 7)
Cassandra Jenkins Editor cjenkins@ communityimpact.com
Dive into Houston ISD’s transformation over the past two years (Page 8)
Read more on what mental health challenges trouble students (Page 10)
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TEA approves new Houston charter school focused on music, arts education
Student transfers outside of Houston ISD Approximately 28% of HISD students transferred from the district to charter schools in the 2024-25 school year.
Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success 1,246 Idea Public Schools 1,409 Harmony Public Schools-Houston South 2,140 International Leadership of Texas 2,691 Southwest Public Schools 1,941 Yes Prep Public Schools
A newly approved music-and-arts-focused charter school serving Pre-K through 8th grade is set to open in Houston for the 2026-27 school year following authorization from the Texas Education Agency. What we know The Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music & Arts is one of four new charter schools opening in Texas, according to a June 27 news release. Located in a historic co ee plant in Second Ward, the mixed-use campus will house music and art studios, multimedia rooms, a rooftop garden and event space, according to the school’s website. “FLAMA aims to ensure that the youth of the Second, Third and Fifth Wards bene t from the East End’s cultural district designation by providing quality music and art education in addition to
rigorous academics,” the school website states. The State Board of Education approved the new charter schools in June from its Generation 30 program based on recommendations from TEA Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. Breaking it down Charter schools have drawn out thousands of students from public school districts all over the Greater Houston area in the 2024-25 school year, with Houston ISD and Alief ISD taking the biggest enrollment losses, according to data from 28 Greater Houston area school districts. TEA identi ed the districts with the highest percentages for net student transfers as a portion of total enrollment. For the 2024-25 school year, TEA found that the highest percentage was in HISD, with 33% of students, or 58,406, transferring out.
14,401
Kipp Public Schools
14,480
FLAMA Art School The school focuses on six pillars of education, such as creative expression, academic rigor, technical uency, nourishment, family and music and art.
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SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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