With the start of the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 10, Houston ISD implemented its new “Pay-for-Performance” model, which determines returning-teachers’ salaries via a performance evaluation and their ranking against other district educators.
The overview
The Pay-for-Performance Teacher Excellence System was approved by HISD’s board of managers in March 2025, as previously reported by Community Impact. The model determines teachers salaries based on a four-category evaluation of the educator's performance during the prior year.
During the first year of implementation, returning-teachers’ scores are based on one year of data, but in the future, pay will be based on a two-year average, according to a July 31 news release from HISD. Teacher salaries for the 2026-27 school year range from $70,000-$101,000 annually.
During an Aug. 10 news conference, HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said about 9,600 teachers began the school year with the district, leaving five open positions. During the week of Aug. 10, teachers will receive their first payout under the new system, he added.
“All of that was happening prior to today and it ... sets us up for success until when you see the manifestation of that work, today, in the schools, in the classrooms,” Miles said Aug. 10. “To me, that's a huge win for our kids.”
Diving deeper
As previously reported, the TES assessments will divide teachers’ evaluations into four categories:
- 45% of the evaluation will be based on “quality of instruction” such as spot and formal observations in the classroom
- 35% of the evaluation will include “student academic outcomes” and will be based on student achievement scores
- 15% of the evaluation will include “planning and professionalism,” which will be based on lesson plan implementation and achieving professional expectations
- 5% of the evaluation will be based on the “campus action plan,” which will cover school-wide performance indicators of success
After being evaluated, teachers will then be ranked into six categories based on where they stand compared to others, as previously reported. The distribution of teachers would be sorted into the following categories:
- 3% of teachers would receive an “Unsatisfactory” ranking
- 12% of teachers would receive a “Progressing 1” ranking
- 25% of teachers would receive a “Progressing 2” ranking
- 40% of teachers would receive a “Proficient 1” ranking
- 12% of teachers would receive a “Proficient 2” ranking
- 8% of teachers would receive a “Exemplary 1” ranking
New HISD teachers will be paid according to years of experience, until their second year with the district, according to HISD's news release. Starting salaries for new teachers are:
- $74,000 annually for teachers with more than three years of certified experience
- $70,000 for teachers with less than three years of certified experience
Also of note
Teachers have additional avenues for earning more money, according to HISD’s news release. Qualifications and opportunities for higher pay include:
- $9,000 can be added to teacher salaries for teaching a core subject or in a self-contained special education classroom
- $3,000 can be added to teacher salaries for teaching an elective or special education inclusion setting
- Teaching at a New Education System school
- Teaching special education students
- Sponsoring student organizations
- Mentoring other teachers with less experience
Reporter Wesley Gardner contributed to this report.
