Houston ISD received 85 out of 100 points, or a 'B' rating, for the 2025-26 school year in the Texas Education Agency’s accountability ratings for school districts statewide, released Aug. 14.

Read all about it: Texas schools are rated on an A-F scale based on three criteria: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps, as previously reported by Community Impact. Elementary and middle school ratings are largely based on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, which students begin taking in third grade. On the other hand, high school ratings are based on STAAR end-of-course results and gauge how well students are prepared for success after graduation.

Zooming in: Over the past three school years, HISD received 79 out of 100 points for 2023-24, 84 out of 100 points for 2024-25 and 85 out of 100 points for 2025-26. However, while the district boasted no F-rated campuses in 2024-25, five campuses were awarded 'F' ratings this year for 2025-26.

Months after the closing of its former window location at Canal Street, Xela Coffee Roasters reopened on Richmond Avenue on June 13, now offering customers indoor seating in its new, fully dedicated space, officials confirmed.

The backstory: Owned by Benji Aguilar and Kaitlin O’Brien, Xela Coffee Roasters has been a part of Houston’s coffee scene for the past several years.

The pair launched the brand in 2014 and opened Xela’s walk-up roastery in the city’s Second Ward in 2018. After permanently closing this location back in January, they have relocated the business to the Montrose area with the same emphasis on exotic roasted coffees.

The drink menu: From its menu, patrons can enjoy permanent and seasonal coffees inspired by Xela’s selection of internationally imported coffee beans.

One more thing: Xela Coffee Roasters is located in the same building space as Nonno’s and The Toasted Coconut along Richmond Avenue

• 1617 Richmond Ave., Houston

Houston city council member Alejandra Salinas will give away portable air conditioners to residents in need throughout August. 

The details: To be eligible for the giveaway, residents must fit into one of these categories:

• Seniors 60 years old or older

• Low-income households

• Disabled veterans

• Individuals with disabilities

• Families facing financial hardship

Some context: This giveaway comes right before Houston City Council is set to vote on the Right to Air Conditioning ordinance, which Salinas proposed in July to close a loophole that allowed rental properties to use window screens as a substitute for cooling. Salinas’ changes to the ordinance would instead require property owners to provide and maintain operable air conditioning.

One more thing: Residents may apply for a portable A/C unit through an online application form, which closes Aug. 31 or until the city runs out of units. City council is set to vote on the ordinance at its Aug. 19 meeting.

Apple officials opened a new manufacturing facility in Houston as part of a $500 billion initiative from the company to strengthen production in the U.S. and the Houston area.

The big picture:  The new 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center will be the second largest facility that produces Apple technology in the U.S., according to an Aug. 13 news release. The new facility will also provide interactive classes and trainings for businesses and entrepreneurs on principles such as:

• Advanced manufacturing 

• Smart technology use in manufacturing

• Advanced automation techniques

The classes will also be available to college students who would like hands-on learning about the technology industry.

Quote of note: “In less than nine months, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into this Houston facility,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said. “We stood up a factory, started production, and shipped the first advanced AI servers off the line ... and we’re pleased to begin Mac mini production later this year.”

Many Texas students began returning to the classroom for the 2026-27 school year in mid-August.

Here are five things Texans should know as the 2026-27 school year kicks off.

The details:

• 2026 school accountability ratings issued
• New rule impacts accountability-related school closures
• 100K students using new Texas Education Freedom Accounts
• Public school closures deepen across Texas
• Check out recent public education laws