Descriptive information is provided about students in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) (Texas) with limited English proficiency (LEP) and the educational programs designed to serve those students. In Fall 1996 the HISD identified 58,425 LEP students, of whom 94.9% reported Hispanic ethnicity. The remaining students reported over 60 different home languages. Of the total LEP students, 32,408 were served through bilingual education programs and 16,327 were served in ESL programs. Information is also provided about LEP student enrollment in the district's administrative divisions. Recommendations are made to improve and maintain student records to ensure the maximum allocation of state Bilingual Education funds and to recruit additional teachers to serve the increasing numbers of LEP students. An appendix shows LEP students by school. (Contains 1 figure and 10 tables.) (SLD)