MAP: Which school districts have increased teacher pay for the 2024-25 school year?

MAP: Which school districts have increased teacher pay for the 2024-25 school year?

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — As school districts across Central Texas make budget decisions for the 2024-25 school year, KXAN is keeping track of teacher salaries areawide.

There are 58 districts in the KXAN viewing area, from Mason ISD in the west to Fayetteville ISD in the east. So far, 43 of those districts have announced new salaries for the upcoming school year.

The map below shows starting salaries in each district for new teachers with no experience. Additional districts will be colored in as salary information is decided by school boards. Click the arrow in the top right to see salaries for the 2023-24 school year.

Of the districts that have released new pay scales for the 2024-25 school year, Del Valle ISD is offering the highest starting salary, at $59,600, a 2.8% increase from the previous year. The salary is the highest areawide for the second school year in a row.

“We are committed to offering competitive salaries in Del Valle ISD,” acting Superintendent Jonathan Harris said in a press release. “Del Valle leads the region in teacher salaries, and this increase gives us a major recruiting tool as we search for the best candidates to join our community, to teach and support our hardworking and talented students.”

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Pflugerville ISD has the second-highest starting salary announced so far — $57,700, an increase of 4.9% over the 2023-24 school year. Hutto ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Leander ISD, Eanes ISD, Georgetown ISD, Round Rock ISD, Manor ISD, Liberty Hill ISD and Bastrop ISD each offer starting salaries of at least $56,000.

Elgin ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, San Marcos CISD, Lockhart ISD, Florence ISD, Hays CISD, Jarrell ISD, Burnet CISD, Johnson City ISD, Fredericksburg ISD, Lampasas ISD, Marble Falls ISD, Rockdale ISD, Lago Vista ISD and Luling ISD all offer at least $50,000 for new teachers with no experience.

Of the districts that have set budgets so far, 17 will offer less than $50,000, including Lometa ISD which offers a base salary of $35,660. Last school year, the district used the state minimum salary of $33,660, set by the Texas Education Agency. Richland Springs ISD still uses the state minimum, which has not yet been set by the TEA for the 2024-25 school year.

Austin ISD, the largest district locally in terms of student enrollment, has not yet announced salaries for the 2024-25 school year.

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Most districts adopted increases between 2% and 5% for the new school year. Prairie Lea ISD increased the most, with an 11.3% increase in starting salary. A teacher with no experience there will earn $49,100, up from $44,100 the previous school year. McDade ISD increased starting salaries by 9.9%, while Coupland ISD and Lometa ISD increased by 7.2% and 5.9% respectively.

Eight districts did not increase starting salaries for the new school year: Bartlett ISD, Bastrop ISD, Giddings ISD, Lago Vista ISD, Llano ISD, Luling ISD, Marble Falls ISD and San Saba ISD.

Bartlett ISD Superintendent Teddy Clevenger blamed the lack of increase on Gov. Abbott’s “lack of support for all Texas teachers.” The governor has pushed for a “school choice” initiative which would allocate state money to help families pay for private or homeschooling expenses.

“It is my hope that our governor will do what is right for our teachers in Texas this next legislative session and not tie vouchers to teachers raises. Those are two totally different important topics that need their own attention,” Supt. Clevenger told KXAN. “Simply put, our Texas educators deserve better and these kids are the future of Texas. We need to invest.”

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