Nine additional campuses in Houston Independent School District could soon be added to the district’s New Education System (NES), as leaders say some principals are voluntarily opting into the model.
A district spokesperson said administrators at nine schools have expressed interest in joining the program for the upcoming school year, citing the added resources and support tied to the NES model. The district has not yet identified which campuses are under consideration.
The potential expansion comes three years into the state’s takeover of HISD, a move that has sparked ongoing debate across the community.
District officials say principals are drawn to the program after seeing improvements at existing NES campuses.
“They see what’s happening at other NES campuses across the district … and they know that the NES model comes with a strategic amount of resources that principals and teachers want to benefit from,” said Kasey Bailey, HISD’s west and central division chief.
The NES program was launched by Superintendent Mike Miles during the 2023–24 school year as part of efforts to improve academic performance at historically low-performing schools.
The model includes centralized curriculum, extended school hours and increased funding for participating campuses. However, it also reduces autonomy for principals and teachers, making it a point of contention among educators and families.
HISD officials have not said when a final decision will be made on the expansion.