Here's how much Houston charter schools paid teachers in 2023-24

The highest-paying charter school based in the Houston area, with 26 teachers, paid an average salary of $72,816 in the 2023-24 academic year, just above the U.S. average cited by the National Education Association of $69,597 for the year previous.

That school, Houston's Draw Academy near Westpark Drive, leads the pack among open-enrollment charter districts based in the region, a Houston Chronicle analysis shows. Open enrollment charter districts generally have fewer teachers than area independent school districts and largely have teacher pay averages below $70,000. The next highest paying, Calvin Nelms Charter School in Katy with 14 teachers, paid an average of nearly $68,853.

Among the bigger names, YES Prep Public Schools Inc, with 1,013 teachers, paid an average salary of $62,309. The Houston-based charter chain reported record student enrollment this academic year with 19,473 students across its 25 schools, a 15% increase from the previous year.

Harmony Public Schools - Houston South, North and West, collectively with 1,014 teachers, each ranged from averages of $62,634 to $62,876 last academic year.

TEXAS TEACHER SALARY EXPLORER: See how your district’s pay compares across the state

Most Houston area non-charter school districts' average teacher salaries ranged from around $65,000 to $70,000 last academic year. A cluster of districts largely east of Beltway 8 paid some of the highest salaries in the region: Channelview (average around $72,700); Deer Park ($70,300) and Galena Park ISD ($69,800).

The Chronicle analyzed and visualized teacher salary records from the Texas Education Agency for more than a thousand public school districts statewide. Texas educators earned anywhere from $44,000 to $80,000 on average, but where a teacher falls in that range depends on factors like years of experience and geographic location. A district that attracts or retains teachers with more experience, for example, would have a higher average pay than one who employs teachers with little experience.

Anastasia Goodwin contributed to this article.