How HISD’s Pay-for-Performance System Works for Principals

HISD’s principal pay-for-performance system connects a principal’s compensation to his or her effectiveness as a school leader. Principals are evaluated through the Leader Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) system using multiple measures, including student achievement, the quality of instruction across the campus, special education performance, and implementation of the school’s action plan. Those measures determine a principal’s overall effectiveness level.

A principal’s effectiveness level then determines where the principal falls within HISD’s compensation structure, with higher levels of demonstrated effectiveness associated with higher pay. The system is designed to recognize principals not simply for managing a campus, but for their impact as instructional leaders—developing effective teachers, improving the quality of classroom instruction, and ultimately delivering stronger outcomes for students.