Data show two Bright Spots where Black student achievement is growing at scale

In recent years, Texas’ two largest school districts—Houston ISD and Dallas ISD—have made notable strides in improving academic outcomes across student groups, with particularly strong progress among Black students. Historically, school systems have faced persistent “opportunity gaps” between students of different racial backgrounds. However, recent trends in these districts point to promising strategies for closing those gaps.

Evidence shows that a sustained commitment to improving opportunities and focus within public education —combined with strategic investments and data-driven decision-making—have helped accelerate academic growth for historically underperforming students across the state, including Black students which represent approximately one in seven students enrolled within Texas’ K-12 system.

For example, just two years ago, Houston ISD lagged behind the state average in academic achievement across all student demographics, with Black students facing the greatest disparities. Only 29% of Houston ISD Black students met grade-level standards in 2023, six percentage points below the state average for this group.

By 2025, that picture has changed dramatically. Black student achievement in Houston ISD has climbed by more than a third to 39%, surpassing the statewide average of 36% for Black students. This 10-point gain over two years outpaces the district’s overall growth of seven percentage points. The very students who were once most underserved are now driving the district’s academic resurgence.

Deeper analysis of the data tells a clear story of progress. In the 2024-25 school year, Black students in Houston ISD demonstrated growth in 24 out of 26 grade-subject combinations, including an impressive 11-point increase in Algebra I. Additionally, 3rd grade reading and math, as well as 6th and 8th grade math, each saw 8-point increases. Broader categories (like grades 6–8 math and grades 3–8 reading) improved by 6 and 5 percentage points, respectively, placing Black students ahead of the state average in these key grade/subject combinations.

This growth is especially meaningful given that it was persistently low performance at Kashmere High School, a predominantly Black campus, that led to a change in leadership and governance imposed by the state two years ago. Now, Kashmere High School is a major driver of the district's success, growing the number of students meeting grade level in the critical subject of Algebra I by over thirty percentage points since 2023.

This positive momentum isn’t limited to Houston. Black student achievement is rising across Texas, with Dallas ISD reflecting a similar story of progress. In 2021, Black students in Dallas academically performed six points below the state average for that demographic. By 2025, that gap has been eliminated, as Dallas ISD Black student performance has grown by a substantial 15 percentage points, doubling the state’s overall growth of seven points. Black students within Dallas ISD are no longer trailing their peers statewide. They’re catching up, and in many cases, leading, closing the gap with student performance for all students across the district by almost half in just four years.

These gains are not accidental. They are the result of districts embracing what research and practice have long indicated works, especially for historically underserved students, such as the implementation of high-quality Instructional materials (HQIM) and strategic staffing models that place our most effective educators on historically underserved campuses.  They also reflect leadership that believes in high expectations for all children.

Both districts have made significant investments in strengthening core literacy instruction. Historically, data has shown that many students across Texas who struggled to read at grade level were Black or Hispanic, highlighting that literacy is not just an academic skill, but a critical lever in ensuring equal opportunities to succeed for all students. The ability to read proficiently impacts a student’s success both in the classroom and beyond.  

Recognizing this, Dallas ISD and Houston ISD have aligned their curricula with the science of reading and placed a strong emphasis on early literacy as the foundation for long-term achievement. Their focused efforts have been instrumental in driving academic growth seen over the past few years.

The growth seen in both Houston ISD and Dallas ISD has been driven by a deliberate focus on the factors that impact students the most, with quality educators and instruction vital to improving student outcomes. Historically, students of color have been disproportionately enrolled in schools staffed by novice educators, a factor that can negatively affect academic outcomes.  

Both districts have also prioritized teacher retention and implemented strategic staffing models to ensure students are taught by highly effective educators. Dallas ISD’s Teacher Excellence Initiative (TEI) and Houston ISD’s Teacher Excellence System (TES) are two such models that reward strong instruction based on data and student outcomes. These systems not only elevate teacher effectiveness, but strategic staffing of their educators via additional financial incentives also ensure that top-performing educators can reach the students who need them most.  

The gains achieved by Houston ISD and Dallas ISD are more than just statistical milestones; they are powerful proof of what’s possible when school systems prioritize the needs of every student. Their progress demonstrates that intentional investments in key areas like literacy, teacher quality, and practices focused on ensuring equal opportunities for all students can not only close long-standing achievement gaps but can also drive improved outcomes for all students. While the work is far from finished, its comprehensive implementation is truly underway, with these two districts offering a clearer roadmap for how to move educational achievement forward across Texas.