How to Become a Teacher in Houston
Public schools in Houston are part of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest in Texas and seventh in the US, serving over 280 schools.1 The district is home to a culturally and linguistically diverse student body of over 209,000 students, with over 74% of students classified as economically disadvantaged.1 Public school teachers need a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). You might also consider jobs in private and charter schools in Houston, which may set different employment requirements. Continue reading to find out more about teaching careers in Houston.
Houston Teacher Certification Requirements
There are two paths to earn the required Texas teaching certificate for Houston teaching jobs. Most teachers earn a teaching certificate by completing a traditional bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program. See our Texas teacher certification guide for more information. Alternatively, if you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can complete an approved educator preparation program to meet the statewide requirements. Refer to our Texas alternative teaching certification guide for more information.
If you want to reduce the financial burden of completing your degree, the Teach Forward Houston fellowship provides free tuition at the University of Houston for HISD seniors who commit to four years of teaching in Houston’s public school system.
Teacher Certification Programs in Houston
The Houston-area colleges and universities below offer teacher preparation programs approved by the TEA. These programs can prepare you for first-time certification or additional endorsements. You can read more about Texas teacher preparation programs on our Texas education schools guide.
- Houston Baptist University
- Lone Star College
- Rice University
- Texas Southern University
- University of Houston
- University of Houston-Clear Lake
- University of Houston-Downtown
- University of St. Thomas
Houston School District Steps for Becoming a Teacher
The HISD requires all teacher candidates to have a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate, which is earned by completing an state-approved educator preparation program either as part of a bachelor’s program or as a separate program. You will then need to pass certification exams and apply for a teaching certificate. You can learn more about the various paths to certification in our certification section. Once you have a Texas teaching certificate, you can apply for public school teaching jobs in Houston.
Step 1: Complete the online application for the Teacher Pool.
The online application is the first step in securing a public school teaching job in Houston. You must provide information about your experience and education as well as submit an official transcript, your teaching certificate, references, a cover letter, a resume, and a math assessment. After acceptance, your profile is added to the Teacher Pool, allowing schools to review your application directly.
Step 2: Apply for open teaching positions.
Once you are in the Teacher Pool, you are eligible to apply for open jobs in the job bank. Schools hire teachers directly in Houston; therefore, you will apply for each position you wish to be considered for. Schools will also be able to view your profile and contact you directly for an interview or offer invitations to relevant job fairs. There are three priority deadlines each year to apply for open positions in the district. The earlier you can apply for positions, the better.
Step 3: Interview for open positions.
Through the application and job fair processes, you may be invited to attend in-person interviews for specific jobs. The interview process will vary depending on the school but typically includes assessments of your teaching profile and content knowledge, sample lesson plans, and/or writing samples.
Step 4: Complete the hiring process.
If you are offered a position, you will likely receive a confirmation letter outlining the details of your job contract and the steps to accept your offer. The school will likely conduct a background check and confirm your credentials before you begin teaching.
Contact Information
Houston Independent School Board
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoustonISD
X: https://x.com/HoustonISD
4400 W 18th St
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 556-6000
https://www.houstonisd.org
How to Become a Substitute Teacher with the Houston School District
In the HISD, substitute teachers are known as Associate Teachers, and they must apply online to the district-wide teaching pool. If your application is accepted, you will be invited to an interview with the HISD Board’s human resources team. The next steps include attending a Pre-Hire session and an Associate Teacher Orientation, submitting your fingerprints, and completing administrative tasks, such as setting up your school email address.
Long-term substitute teaching positions require a bachelor’s degree and are offered as they become available during the school year. However, you do not need a bachelor’s degree to apply for the Associate Teaching pool or to work in short-term positions. You can also apply if you are completing your student teaching placement as part of a teacher preparation program.
Private and Charter School Teacher Requirements in Houston
Both private and charter schools operate outside of public school requirements and many offer specialized learning opportunities and smaller classes. Unlike the public school system, they do not always require you to have a teaching certificate to teach and many schools will accept a bachelor’s degree in a related subject. However, if you do have teaching experience and a valid teaching certificate, this may be an advantage for your application. You should contact private or charter schools directly to learn about teaching requirements and job openings. Private schools are funded independently while charter schools receive public funding but operate according to individualized school charters or mandates.
The Largest K-12 Schools in Houston
To help you compare public, private, and charter schools that may be hiring in Houston, we compiled the below table of the largest schools in the area.
| School | Type | Grade Level | # Students | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piney Point Elementary School | Public | PK-5 | 1,201 | 18:1 |
| The Rice School / La Escuela Rice | Public | K-8 | 1,149 | 17:1 |
| Pilgrim Academy | Public | PK-8 | 1,144 | 18:1 |
| Pershing Middle School | Public | 6-8 | 1,700 | 19:1 |
| Meyerland Middle School | Public | 6-8 | 1,607 | 17:1 |
| Lanier Middle School | Public | 6-8 | 1,469 | 20:1 |
| Bellaire High School | Public | 9-12 | 3,487 | 17:1 |
| Lamar High School | Public | 9-12 | 3,378 | 23:1 |
| Chavez High School | Public | 9-12 | 3,067 | 18:1 |
| Energized for Excellence Academy Elementary School | Charter | K-5 | 1,802 | — |
| YES Prep Southeast | Charter | 6-12 | 997 | 16:1 |
| KIPP Legacy Preparatory School | Charter | PK-4 | 964 | 20:1 |
| The Village School | Private | PK-12 | 1,773 | 9:1 |
| The Awty International School | Private | PK-12 | 1,731 | 8:1 |
| St. John’s School | Private | K-12 | 1,258 | 7:1 |
See Table Notes and References at bottom of page.
Houston Teacher Salary and Jobs Outlook
During the 2024-2025 school year, first-year teachers at HISD’s New Education System (NES) schools started with a minimum annual salary of between $70,000 for kindergarten teachers and $83,000 for most high school teachers, with teachers with more experience starting at a higher base salary.1 Teachers in non-NES schools started at $64,000.1
The table below compares various classroom teaching roles in Houston by the total number employed, median annual salary, 90th percentile annual salary, and 10-year job growth projections. Note SPED is an abbreviation for special education.
| Teacher type | # Employed2 | Median Annual Salary2 | 90th Percentile Annual Salary2 | Proj. Job Growth 2022-323 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 3,210 | $66,200 | $74,800 | 17% |
| Elementary School Teachers | 33,600 | $64,680 | $74,480 | 17.8% |
| Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, SPED | 4,820 | $66,090 | $78,190 | 17% |
| Middle School Teachers | 16,570 | $66,510 | $78,640 | 18.1% |
| Middle School Teachers, SPED | 2,050 | $66,380 | $76,600 | 17% |
| Secondary School Teachers | 23,830 | $66,260 | $78,590 | 18.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education | 3,590 | $67,180 | $81,530 | 16.8% |
| Secondary School Teachers, SPED | 2,900 | $66,460 | $76,970 | 17.3% |
Houston Teacher Shortage Areas
The US Department of Education bases some student loan forgiveness programs on teacher shortage areas, meaning that your chances of qualifying for loan forgiveness may be stronger if you are teaching a subject formally identified as a shortage area. You may also qualify for other funding opportunities or a more competitive salary based on your endorsement(s). Note that shortage areas may change from year to year, so you should to check with state education agencies, your selected education program, and your student loan providers about funding options. For the 2020-2021 school year, the following subject areas were recognized as shortage areas in Texas (statewide):4
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language (Elementary and Secondary)
- Career and Technical Education (Secondary)
- Mathematics (Secondary)
- Special Education (Elementary and Secondary)
- Technology Applications and Computer Science (Secondary)
Houston Teaching Jobs Boards
To look for open jobs in Houston, search online job boards or contact schools directly. Following are some job boards to get started. You can also use our jobs board to search for teaching jobs in Houston now.
- Houston Independent School Board (HISD) Jobs
- Houston Teacher Job Fairs
- KIPP Houston Public School Jobs
- K12 Jobspot: Houston
Additional Resources
- Houston Federation of Teachers (HFT): Union bargaining unit representing Houston public school teachers as well as other union-classified employees.
- Houston Music Teachers Association (HMTA): Membership-driven organization that provides resources for Houston-area music educators and their students.
- Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education (HAABE): Supports and promotes bilingual education in the Houston area.
- Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators (HAABSE): Promotes the education of all students with sensitivity to the needs and interests of the black community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How much do substitute teachers make in Houston?
Answer: Substitute teachers, also known as Associate Teachers, in Houston without a degree earn $19 per hour as of the 2023-2024 school year.5 Substitute teachers who have a bachelor’s degree or a degree and teacher certification can qualify for long-term substitute assignments (those lasting over 10 days); long-term assignments pay $21 per hour.5
Question: Which schools offer teacher certification programs in Houston?
Answer: Schools with teacher certification programs in Houston include the University of Houston and Rice University as well as smaller schools such as St. Thomas University. Check the TEA website for more information on approved university-based and alternative certification programs.
Table Notes and References:
1. Niche, Largest Schools in Houston: https://www.niche.com/k12/search/largest-schools/t/houston-harris-tx/
References:
1. Houston Independent School District: https://www.houstonisd.org/hisd
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_26420.htm3. Texas Labor Market Information: Employment Projections: https://texaslmi.com/LMIbyCategory/Projections
4. Texas Education Agency 2018-2019 Teacher Shortage Areas and Loan Forgiveness Programs: https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/2018-2019-teacher-shortage-areas-and-loan-forgiveness-programs
5. Houston Independent School District Salary Tables: https://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/50243/HISD-23-24-SY-Compensation-Manual-pg19.pdf