Good intentions... bad implementation - Anonymous employee Houston ISD Employee Review

3.0
15 Apr 2010
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

HISD is a monster of a school district. It provides opportunities in many different educational settings, such as charter schools, magnet schools, and regular public schools. Once you're in, it's easy to move around if a particular campus is not to your liking. For the most part, the other teachers are helpful and down-to-earth. This, of course, varies from campus to campus.

Cons

HISD is a monster of a school district. Yes, this is a pro, but mostly a con. The district is too entranced in accountability measures and meeting adequate yearly progress benchmarks. All the students end up doing is testing. All the teachers end up doing is teaching how to take a particular test or analyzing data based on performances on tests. To add insult to injury, mandates are pushed down at will, and teachers are left to implement new changes to improve performance without adequate support, resources, training, or (most importantly) time. Teachers and support staff are asked to do the impossible while given few means of achieving those goals. It makes for a very stressful and frustrating work environment. All that... without even considering the type of student population you may be faced with... That's an entirely different story.

Explore other reviews about Houston ISD

5.0
14 Dec 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Typical, structured work environment for education

Cons

None I can think of as far as being an educator

3.0
17 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Love working with the students in HISD -Most coworkers are amazing and passionate about providing access to post-secondary options to all students

Cons

-Instruction from higher up in HISD is often inconsistent, and they deliver expectations and news VERY last minute -There's a lot of disorganization due to being understaffed as everyone is being stretched thin -Isn't room to grow pay-wise in this role; I have to change roles in order to get a salary increase.

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