The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has compiled information covering a broad range of topics relating to the education of students in the district. The 2001-02 HISD Digest of Educational Statistics includes information on HISD students, staff members, and financial issues, as well as comparative data with other Texas school districts. Data for this Digest were collected from a number of sources, including the HISD School Administrative Student Information (SASI) system, the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) web site (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/), the TEA Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS), the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), the Human Resources database, the Harcourt Brace data tapes, and Educational Testing Service data tapes.

The 2001-02 HISD Digest of Educational Statistics is divided into nine chapters:

• Houston Independent School District Academic Infrastructure
• Enrollment
• Teachers and Other Instructional Staff
• Dropouts, Graduates
• Advanced Seals on Transcripts
• Educational Achievement
• Student Behavior
• Program Information
• Revenues and Expenditures
• Harris County and Major Urban School Districts.

In most cases, the data presented are for the 1990–91 through the 2001-02 school years. When available, data are presented as far back as the 1968–69 school year.

The purpose of this document is to provide the Superintendent of Schools, Board members, senior staff, program administrators, and other interested parties with longitudinal data addressing numerous facets of HISD. The tables provide a unique opportunity to view district performance over several years. Information gathered from the trends evidenced here can be used to modify and create policy and programs that will continue to enhance the education that students receive in HISD.