HISD Enrollment Plummets by 8,321 Students, Major Funding Loss Looms

URGENT UPDATE: New records reveal that the Houston Independent School District (HISD) has seen a staggering drop of 8,321 students for the 2025-26 school year, compared to the previous year. This decline exceeds the district’s initial estimate of 6,700 students presented during a May budget meeting. The alarming figures, obtained exclusively by ABC13, highlight a troubling trend in student enrollment that continues to spiral downward.

The data indicates that HISD’s enrollment has fallen significantly over the years:
– 2021-22: 194,606 students
– 2022-23: 189,933 students
– 2023-24: 184,108 students
– 2024-25: 176,730 students
– 2025-26: 168,409 students (projected)

This dramatic decrease raises urgent questions about why families are choosing to leave. Previous reports from ABC13 revealed that many students departed for reasons that remain unclear, while others have transitioned to private schools or opted for homeschooling. In fact, a total of 2,762 students left HISD for private education or homeschooling over the last two school years, marking a 40% increase since Mike Miles took over as superintendent.

Education expert Duncan Klussmann from the University of Houston warns that the situation may worsen. He stated, “Next year, we’re going to have school vouchers where a billion dollars of taxpayer funds are going to go to individuals who want to leave traditional public schools and go into private schools.”

The implications of this enrollment drop are significant. HISD stands to lose over $51 million in funding due to the decrease in student numbers, calculated at a per-student allotment of $6,160. This funding loss could directly impact educational resources and services available to remaining students.

HISD officials have committed to providing an updated enrollment figure based on data from October 31, which could further clarify the district’s financial outlook.

This developing situation underscores the importance of student enrollment for school funding, which is tied to daily attendance rates. Klussmann emphasizes, “Enrollment is very important, as it directly affects attendance and the funding that follows.”

As HISD grapples with these challenges, the future of education in Houston remains uncertain. Stay tuned for updates on this critical issue and follow Lileana Pearson on social media for the latest developments.