Houston ISD - Texas Urban Council

Quick Facts

195,000 students.

276 campuses.

27,000 team members.

Superintendent
Millard House II

The Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the eighth-largest in the United States. It serves over 194,000 students at 276 campuses and is one of the largest employers in Houston, with about 27,000 team members. The district is the two-time winner of the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education.

Six assistant superintendents oversee HISD elementary, middle, high and alternative/charter schools (respectively). A total of 30 school-support officers report to the six assistant superintendents. These individuals provide leadership to principals, align resources and support for teachers, and ensure that the district is providing equitable and quality educational opportunities to students. Parent liaisons are available to answer questions and address matters regarding district schools.

HISD’s organization is designed to emphasize teaching and learning, align school goals and programs for sustained improvement, eliminate duplicated services, and provide greater oversight of data and compliance with state laws and regulations.

HISD is a district of choice, meaning that it offers a robust portfolio of schools that allows families to choose the school that best meets their child’s academic needs and interests. Families can choose from strong neighborhood schools, magnet and specialized programs, Montessori, early college high schools, gifted and talented programs, and career and technical academies.

Houston ISD places an emphasis on ensuring our students graduate ready for the world — possessing the characteristics they need to be successful in college and to compete in today’s global workforce.

Superintendent

Millard House II

In June 2021, Millard House II was elected unanimously by the Board of Education as the superintendent of the Houston Independent School District.

Millard House IISuperintendent House most recently served as superintendent of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Tennessee and in 2021 was named TN Mid-Cumberland Superintendent of the Year. Under his leadership, CMCSS produced steady academic gains across subject areas; expanded educational options for families; implemented an innovative Teacher Residency Program to prepare new teachers; ensured every student in kindergarten through 12th grade has technology to learn; and implemented a Foundational Literacy Skills Plan to support young children who are learning to read.

Superintendent House is a Tulsa, OK native who started his career as a physical education teacher and has more than 25 years of experience in education and the nonprofit sector. He previously served as chief operating officer of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina and as deputy superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma.

Prior to joining the executive cabinet in Tulsa, he founded and led a college preparatory middle school in one of the city’s most economically underserved neighborhoods. Over four years, Superintendent House’s school became one of the highest-performing and most sought-after schools in the community. Before founding his school, Superintendent House was one of the nation’s youngest public-school administrators as he served as assistant principal for one year and principal for four years at Marian Anderson Elementary School in Tulsa at the age of 26.

During Superintendent House’s tenure, Anderson Elementary went from being designated one of the lowest performing schools in the state of Oklahoma to being one of the highest performing Title I schools in the state of Oklahoma.

In 2003, Superintendent House was voted Tulsa Public Schools’ Principal of the Year. He was the first African American educator to earn this honor. He also was named the Outstanding Administrator of the Year by the Tulsa Area Alliance of Black School Educators.

Superintendent House earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Montevallo, Alabama and his Master of Administration in School Administration from Northeastern State University, Oklahoma. He also graduated from the Fisher School Leadership Program at the Hass School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.

Superintendent House has served on several boards, including Tulsa Educare Board, Oklahoma Center for Community & Justice Board, Oklahoma Education Oversight Board, Southwestern Educational Development Laboratory Board, Harvey B. Gantt Museum Board, Charlotte Children’s Theater Board, Tennessee Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, Complete Tennessee Steering Committee, and the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce.