HISD Sees Sharp Decline of 8,321 Students for 2025-26 Year

URGENT UPDATE: New records reveal that the Houston Independent School District (HISD) has experienced a staggering decline of 8,321 students for the 2025-26 school year. This sharp drop exceeds the district’s own projections of 6,700 students, as confirmed by exclusive data obtained by ABC13.

The preliminary enrollment figures show a continuing trend of decreasing student numbers, with HISD reporting 168,409 students for the upcoming year, down from 176,730 in 2024-25. This decline has significant implications, particularly regarding state funding, as enrollment directly affects financial resources for the district.

Historically, HISD’s enrollment has plummeted year after year:
– 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)

Eyewitness News has been pursuing this data for weeks, but HISD has delayed its release until state figures are finalized. A source within the district expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, leading to this disclosure.

The reasons behind this alarming exodus are multifaceted. The majority of students leaving HISD have done so for unknown reasons or have graduated, but an increasing number are opting for private schools or homeschooling. In the past two years alone, 2,762 students have transitioned to private education, marking a 40% increase compared to the two years prior to the new district leadership.

University of Houston education professor Duncan Klussmann warns that this trend may accelerate next year with the introduction of school vouchers, which will allocate $1 billion in taxpayer funds to families seeking alternatives to traditional public schooling. “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,” Klussmann stated.

The financial impact of the enrollment decrease is considerable. With 8,321 fewer students, HISD stands to lose over $51 million in revenue, based on an average funding allotment of $6,160 per student.

HISD officials confirmed they will provide final enrollment figures based on data from October 31, which will further clarify the scope of this decline.

The urgent need for clarity and action is evident as stakeholders await the final numbers that will determine the district’s funding and resources. For the latest developments, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Stay tuned as we continue to monitor this unfolding story, which has crucial implications for the future of education in Houston.