Nine Houston ISD Campuses to Join New Education System Next Year

This article is the first in a three-part series examining the current and future implementation of Houston ISD’s New Education System (NES). Articles that follow will explore how the model is already implemented at Foster and Carrillo elementaries and how campus leaders envision NES shaping academic growth in the years ahead. 

Nine HISD elementary campuses will transition to the district’s New Education System (NES) for the 2026-27 school year, adding to the district’s novel educational reform model that’s demonstrated three years of growth. 

The campuses are Barrick, Bastian, Benbrook, Burnet, Carrillo, E. White, Foster, Garcia, and Law elementaries. These schools are joining after at least a year of using part or all of the model’s curriculum. 

The NES designation comes with additional funding to hire teacher aides, increase teacher pay, and implement enrichment programming. 

"We are continuing to attract educators who really are not afraid of transformation and want to do what's best for kids,” Chief of Schools Kasey Bailey said. “Whether your students are closing gaps or mastering the academic content, the NES model can support and meet those needs."

Aligning District Funding

The key aspect that distinguishes NES campuses is that per-student annual funding is $8,566, compared to $6,133 at non-NES campuses, to accompany the district-standardized curriculum that includes lesson plans for teachers, differentiated instruction, and daily learning objective tracking. 

The additional funding includes: 

• Up to $9,000 higher teacher salaries during the 2026-27 school year 
• Learning coaches, teacher assistants, and teacher apprentices to assist teacher preparation and differentiated learning for different learning paces while eliminating the need for substitute teachers

The model was initially implemented at campuses needing significant academic improvement, however, principal interest broadened participation to include schools seeking to sustain high levels of academic growth, regardless of prior performance status. While no additional campuses became NES for the 2025-2026 school year, the district opened the opportunity for a handful of schools to join next year. Several principals gauged staff interest during an opt-in period, and in the end, nine were selected.

Bailey said top candidates for the NES model included “special focus” campuses that were required to use the district’s curriculum during the 2025–26 school year in an effort to improve student achievement and close persistent gaps between student groups.

“Any stagnation in overall campus performance shows you need a stronger instructional model with additional support to get the best teachers so that you can then raise to the same level of achievement and performance as our high-growth NES campuses, where we have seen a lot of progress over the last almost three years“ Bailey said. 

Two non-NES schools, Mading and Pleasantville elementaries, will become NES campuses next year specifically because they are taking in students from Alcott and Port Houston elementaries, two NES campuses that are closing after this school year.

Moving Forward

As the district prepares to have all “A” and “B” campuses by August 2027, Bailey said the district will continue to invest in campuses to ensure all can grow and provide additional support to communities that require them. 

“Until 100% of kids are reading and doing math at grade level at a mastery level, there’s always a need for a sustained model—whether NES, non-NES, or 1882 partnership—that supports underserved students,” Bailey said.