Which Houston-area school districts serve the fewest special ed students?

#15 Aldine ISD

Percent of students receiving special education services: 7.22 percent

Number of students receiving special education services: 5,039

Total enrollment in 2016-2017: 69,768 #15 Aldine ISD

Percent of students receiving special education services: 7.22 percent

Number of students receiving special education services: 5,039

Total enrollment in 2016-2017: 69,768 Photo: Karen Warren , Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren , Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Which Houston-area school districts serve the fewest special ed students? 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

As public school districts in Texas continue to wrestle with how to improve special education after a U.S. Department of Education investigation found districts statewide denied children special education services at the state's behest, data shows charter schools also serve few special ed students.

Of the 10 Houston-area traditional school districts, charter school districts and individual charter schools that serve the smallest percentages of special education services, nine are charter school districts or charter schools, according to Texas Education Agency data for the 2016-2017 school year. The list was generated by comparing districts and charters that serve at least 1,000 students.

DENIED: How Texas keeps tens of thousands of children out of special education

One local charter school provided special education services to only 2.75 percent of its students, even though the national average of students receiving special education services was about 13 percent in 2014-2015.

The traditional ISDs with the lowest percentage of students receiving special education services included Waller, Fort Bend, Houston, Barbers Hill, Hardin and Aldine ISDs.

READ ALSO: Houston schools systematically block disabled kids from special ed

A Houston Chronicle investigation published in the fall of 2016 found that public school districts statewide had denied students special education services after the Texas Education Agency created an artificial cap, punishing districts if more than 8.5 percent of their students received special education services. The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation shortly after, the findings of which corroborated the Chronicle's reporting.

Two local charter schools provided special education services to more than 8.5 percent of their students, including Odyssey Academy, Inc. (10.12 percent) and Southwest School (8.86 percent)

Still, two of the largest charter school operators in the Houston area -- KIPP Public Schools - Houston and YES Prep Public Schools -- provided smaller percentages of special education students with services than any local traditional school district. About 6.09 percent of KIPP students received special education services, while about 5.85 percent of YES Prep students received such services.

Audit: HISD's special education department still plagued by problems after changes

Houston ISD received the results of a third-party audit studying its special education department earlier this month. The audit found that although the district had made some positive changes since the Chronicle's investigation was published, major problems with staffing, identification and communication remained.

Click through the slideshow to see which Houston-area traditional and charter schools provide special education services to the smallest share of their students.