The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Under a court order to desegregate in 1975, the Houston Independent School District began developing the concept of magnet schools as a response. A year later, the HISD opened 32 magnet schools to achieve the goal of integrating its schools. While HISD subsequently gained unitary status in 1980, it continued to expand its magnet program.

Currently HISD supports 54 magnet elementary schools, 29 magnet middle schools, and 27 magnet high schools. They are tasked with meeting two objectives: to increase the percentage of students attending integrated schools and to provide programs whose special focus and quality will attract students from across the district.