{"id":289188,"date":"2026-05-12T06:52:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T06:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/289188\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T06:52:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T06:52:19","slug":"texas-public-schools-see-first-non-pandemic-enrollment-drop-in-decades-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/289188\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas public schools see first non-pandemic enrollment drop in decades"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TexasTexas schools saw a decline of more than 76,000 students this academic school year, according to a report released ahead of today\u2019s public education committee in the Texas House. Credit: Texas Tribune \/ Justin Hamel<\/p>\n

Roughly 76,000 fewer students enrolled in Texas public schools this academic year \u2014 the first non-pandemic decline in nearly four decades \u2014 with Hispanic students accounting for the overwhelming majority of the loss, according to a report released Monday.<\/p>\n

The policy research group Texas 2036 analyzed the state\u2019s enrollment data and projected that about 100,000 fewer students would attend public schools by the end of the current decade.<\/p>\n

Hispanic students accounted for 81% of this school year\u2019s enrollment drop. Over the past year, federal and state leaders increased anti-immigration rhetoric, in some cases detaining Texas students<\/a> and prompting fear<\/a> across communities.<\/p>\n

Texas educates 5.5 million public school students, 53% of whom are Hispanic, 24% are white and 13% are Black.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat stands out in the data is that public school enrollment is falling even as Texas continues to grow,\u201d said Carlo Castillo, a senior research analyst at Texas 2036, in a statement. \u201cIn many parts of the state, population gains are no longer translating into public school enrollment growth. That points to a broader structural shift policymakers and district leaders will need to plan for.\u201d<\/p>\n

The nonprofit shared the findings just ahead of Monday\u2019s education committee hearing for the Texas House. The focus includes updates on enrollment trends and the stability of Texas\u2019 school funding system.<\/p>\n

Texas funds public schools based on attendance. Some districts have cut programs and shuttered campuses despite a nearly $8.5 billion increase to public education funding last year.<\/p>\n

As the hearing began, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath laid out the enrollment drop to lawmakers, noting, \u201cWe cannot tell you the precise cause of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a developing story; check back for updates.<\/p>\n

Disclosure: Texas 2036 has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune\u2019s journalism. Find a complete\u00a0list of them here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sign Up for SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>| Twitter<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Texas\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state can enforce its 2025 law requiring public schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Texas\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe board will have multiple opportunities to revise the list before a final vote in June. Before recent changes, the proposal\u2019s length, lack of diversity and Christian focus received criticism.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Democrats\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Texas Public Policy Foundation awarded the grant to Schreiner University\u2019s Texas Center, which is led by a historian guiding the state in its social studies revision.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\t