DATA: Students in special education programs rise at Greater Houston-area school districts from 2020-25
Friendswood and Katy ISDs lead the region for highest percentages of students with dyslexia and autism, respectively, according to Texas Education Agency data released May 9.
At a glance: Community Impact analyzed TEA data for 28 school districts across the Greater Houston area to learn which schools have the most students enrolled in special education programs.
According to data for 28 Greater Houston-area school districts, the districts with the highest total numbers of students receiving special education services in 2024-25 are:
Houston ISD with 20,486 students
Katy ISD with 17,228 students
Cy-Fair ISD with 16,629 students
By the numbers: When looking at the number of students receiving special education services as a percentage of total enrollment, some different school districts emerged for the largest populations.
The districts with the highest percentage of students enrolled in special education programs in the 2024-25 school year are:
Impact roundup: 8 dining options to try in the Bay Area
Looking for some dining, drink or smoothie options? Check out some of the businesses in the Bay Area that have either opened recently, are coming soon or have been in the news.
Now open Casa Matcha The cafe serves a variety of matcha lattes and house-made cold brew, as well as muffins, cake pops, croissants and cookies.
1199 E. NASA Parkway, Webster
Coming soon Gauchos Do Sul The restaurant serves unlimited cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb, as well as a salad bar and side dishes. Much of the food is served directly at customers' tables.
415 Royal Tern Way, Webster
In the news Damn Fine Coffee and Fried Pies The business celebrated its five-year anniversary. It sells roasted coffee beans, coffee drinks and fried pies, including peach cobbler, bread pudding, pumpkin and sweet potato.
National Pilates franchise opens new studio in League City
A new Jetset Pilates studio opened this summer in League City, offering a variety of 50-minute workouts focusing on precision, flow and full-body conditioning.
At a glance: According to Jetset Pilates’ website, the studio offers four different types of classes: reformer, fundamentals, core/upper body and core/lower body.
What else: In addition to the reformers, clients can incorporate a Pilates ring and light dumbbells into the routine.
1340 E. League City Parkway, Ste. 400, League City
Texas House approves mid-decade congressional redistricting plan
The Texas House signed off on a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts Aug. 20. The vote came two days after approximately two dozen House Democrats ended a two-week walkout in protest of the redistricting effort.
The overview: Rep. Todd Hunter, a Corpus Christi Republican who filed the proposed map, said 37 of Texas’ 38 congressional districts would be redrawn, with “the primary changes focused [on] five districts for partisan purposes.”
“While there's no guarantee of electoral success, Republicans will now have an opportunity to potentially win these… five new districts,” Hunter said.
The debate: House Democrats decried Texas’ proposed map as “illegal and racially discriminatory,” arguing that it would “dilute” minorities’ voting power by dividing historically Black and Hispanic communities into multiple districts.
“Texans and Americans all across the country are watching,” Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, said. “They know this map before us is a calculated maneuver to diminish the voices of the very communities that power Texas.”
House Republicans maintained that race was not considered when the new lines were drawn.
DATA: Housing affordability remains steady across Houston region
Home affordability in the Houston region decreased slightly according to the second-quarter housing affordability report from the Houston Association of Realtors.
At a glance: Out of the five major counties in the Houston region, Montgomery County had the highest rate of home affordability, with 46% of residents able to afford a median-priced home. The least affordable area was Harris County, where only 34% of residents are able to afford a median-priced home.
What else?: For those who rent homes, the average monthly payment across the region dropped from $2,190 to $2,100 a month. Galveston County saw the highest increase in monthly home rental prices, going from $2,100 to $2,175 per month.
