Houston ISD reviews

2.7

23% would recommend to a friend

(2,174 total reviews)
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F. Mike Miles

10% approve of CEO

21% positive business outlook

Houston ISD has an employee rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 2,174 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Houston ISD employee rating is 28% below average for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
2.0
May 3, 2016

not a nice district to work

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good location; competitive start salary (starting from $ 51,500, but no stipend for advanced degree holders)

Cons

typical urban school district--crimes and unpleasant work condition; not enough support for new teachers unfair teacher appraisal system it tries to push out teachers with comparatively high salary...

1.0
May 4, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It used to be a decent district. It used to have adequate support systems in place. It used to focus on the whole child. It used to value wrap around services, counselors, and librarians.

Cons

After the hostile takeover by the TEA, the state appointed uncertified superintendent and his hand-selected Board of managers have systematically been destroying the district. It is a toxic work environment, where F. Mike Miles has created a culture of fear and top-down bullying. The pressure and anxiety on principals and teachers is unhealthy and unsustainable. He is driving away the best and most experienced educators in order to put in compliant, inexperienced uncertified teachers who will bend to his will without question. He has taken the joy and creativity out of teaching and learning. His one-size-fits-all approach does not meet the needs of all learners, and his militaristic style of management makes the schools feel like prisons. Students have noticed the changes and have been greatly affected by it. The evaluation systems are flawed and inconsistent, the mandated curriculum is riddled with errors, not at all in line with research-based best practices, and not engaging at all. Due to his mishandling of the budget, he is cutting much needed positions left and right, all after he increased the number of central office administrators who make over 200K by 300%. While HISD is under the mismanagement of TEA, I would not recommend it. And the most troubling thing, is that it is our children who are suffering the most and who will pay the ultimate price of receiving a low quality education, setting them up for lower economic and fewerr academic opportunities later in life.

2.0
May 19, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are some wonderful, talented students in HISD.

Cons

Hiring process and onboarding is bureaucratic and time-consuming. Too much emphasis on teacher appraisals and testing Inequity in schools

Viewing 1 - 3 of 2,174 Reviews

Glassdoor has 2,285 Houston ISD reviews submitted anonymously by Houston ISD employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Houston ISD is right for you.