Austin News

Texas public school enrollment has dropped by nearly a quarter-million students during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by the non-profit policy group Texas 2036.

“There are a projected 242,000 fewer students enrolled in Texas public schools — including both in-person and remote learners — than there were last year,” the group said. “This would be a 4% decline in year-over-year student enrollment, unprecedented in a state that has long had one of the fastest-growing student populations in the nation.”

Many of the missing students could be in private school or are being home schooled, according to the organization.

“But still, these enrollment numbers raise serious questions for Texas leaders,” Texas 2036 said. “Students without family or community supports may not be maximizing their potential when they are not enrolled in school. Likewise, outside of the classroom, many children are more at risk of hunger, trauma and other negative experiences.”

The Austin ISD, the largest in the metro area, has also seen the largest decline in enrollment, with 5,661 fewer students this year, WKVUE reported.

Enrollment is even down in the fast-growing suburbs, the station said, citing Leander ISD with a drop of 1,113 students.

Lower enrollment could result in less state funding for school systems. The Texas Education Agency refrained from cuts in 2020 and superintendents are hoping it will continue that policy this year.

There has been a “tremendous uptick” in home schooling nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, the The Texas Home School Coalition said on its website. It cited a Gallup poll showing a doubling of the number of families home schooling their children, from 5% in 2019, to 10% in 2020.

That would translate into more than 670,000 home schooled students in Texas, which would save the state $7 billion each year, the coalition said.