Urban Edge

Sharp insights. Smart solutions. Better cities.

How Texas plans to tie school accountability grades to college success, job wages

Texas plans to weight postsecondary readiness metrics in its academic accountability system starting in 2031, with the goal of getting more students on track to college and career success.

Public attitudes are shifting as Houstonians reckon with the personal impact of mass deportation policy

A new Kinder Institute for Urban Research survey shows that 1 in 7 residents know someone who was detained and potentially deported, with the rate rising to more than 1 in 4 in some neighborhoods.

An average life expectancy of 80? This Rice researcher says a ‘universal basic neighborhood’ can make it happen.

Kinder Institute co-founder Michael Emerson argues minimum neighborhood standards can boost life expectancy.

How new FEMA flood maps will — and won’t — impact insurance costs across Harris County

Hundreds of thousands of Harris County residents would move into higher-risk flood zones under a proposed update to federal maps — but only some residents would see insurance hikes as a result.

800 school districts, $1 billion paid: How Texas’ teacher pay-for-performance has rapidly grown

About two-thirds of Texas school districts have now joined the Teacher Incentive Allotment, including nearly all in Houston.

What do Houston’s Asian residents love and dislike about the region? Here’s what 2,500 of them said.

The region’s Asian community is mostly satisfied with life in the area, though a few nagging problems persist.

With 1 million trees planted, Houston nonprofit charts expansion to combat canopy loss

Trees For Houston celebrated its 1 millionth tree planted last week, a milestone for the four-decade old nonprofit. Now, it’s charting a path to the next million — and in much less time.

‘Set up for failure’: Houston residents take expensive payday loans at sky-high rates, survey finds

Houstonians rely on payday loans at significantly higher rates than most Americans — and paying an exceptionally high price for them.

Texas school vouchers promise choice. Geography may influence who has options in Houston.

While some Houston families live near private schools accepting vouchers, others reside miles from the nearest campus.

Left in the cold: These Houston residents report lack of safe, reliable heating in winter

Early results from a Kinder Institute survey show 12% of Harris County residents don’t have safe, reliable heat at home.