Texas charter school superintendents rake in CEO pay even as students remain low-performing

Three of Texas’ highest-paid charter school superintendents are overseeing some of the state’s lowest-performing districts, newly released records show. One of those districts is now at risk of closure by the end of the school year.An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune previously revealed that Valere Public Schools paid its superintendent up to $870,000 annually in recent years, roughly triple what was reported publicly. Two other districts, Faith Family Academy and Gateway Charter Academy, also underreported the compensation of their top leaders, ProPublica reported.

Failing districts, repeated strikes

State records show all three districts have repeatedly received failing or near-failing performance ratings in recent years. Last month, the Texas Education Agency published two years of previously undisclosed accountability ratings, showing that charter schools make up the majority of districts with repeated “unacceptable” performance, even though they represent a small fraction of Texas public schools, according to ProPublica.Faith Family Academy, a Dallas-area district with roughly 3,000 students, is now on track to be shut down after receiving its third consecutive “F” rating. Despite the low performance, the district paid its superintendent a peak annual compensation of $560,000. Experts told ProPublica that these high salaries in underperforming districts highlight a troubling disconnect between leadership pay and student outcomes.

Teacher shortages, high superintendent pay

A small charter district in Dallas, Gateway Charter Academy, is facing a similar situation. With teacher turnover as high as 62% in recent years and salaries below the statewide average, the district paid its superintendent more than $426,000 in 2023, nearly double his base pay, ProPublica reported. If the district receives another low rating next year, it too could face closure.State law mandates that charter schools that fail to meet performance standards for three consecutive years are automatically shut down.

School leaders have 30 days to contest their ratings, after which final scores are released in December to determine closures.

Retention stipends and loopholes

Despite repeated underperformance, boards have continued to approve massive compensation packages for superintendents. Valere Public Schools, for example, lists a base salary of $285,887 plus a $20,000 per month “retention stipend,” effectively doubling the superintendent’s base pay, ProPublica reported.Lawmakers have repeatedly tried to regulate superintendent pay, but proposals to cap compensation tied to student performance have repeatedly failed.

Conflicts of interest

Conflicts of interest have also been reported in multiple districts. Gateway Charter Academy hired administrators’ relatives, and Faith Family Academy’s board includes family members of the superintendent, ProPublica reported.Advocates stress that while charter schools are meant to innovate, accountability cannot be overlooked. A spokesperson for the Texas Public Charter Schools Association told ProPublica that all public schools, including charter schools, must be transparent and good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Accountability questions loom

As Texas moves towards closing underperforming charter schools, the contrast between CEO-level pay and student outcomes raises urgent questions about priorities and accountability in the state’s education system.