More North Texas school districts are opening enrollment to out-of-district students as a way to increase enrollment and bring in more revenue.<\/p>\n
Mansfield ISD on Monday began accepting applications for out-of-district students as part of its Destination Mansfield<\/a> program launched earlier this year.<\/p>\n Mansfield, like many Texas school districts, has struggled financially because of inflation, too few state education dollars, and enrollment declines. State data shows the district last year had roughly 35,300 students, down a few hundred from the year before.<\/p>\n \u201cOur demographers tell us that it’ll go back up here in a couple of years based on the live birth rates, but what we did have is a population shift out of the northern sector of our district,\u201d said Deputy Superintendent Sean Scott. \u201cSome of those neighborhoods aged out a little bit. They’ll recycle back around, but for right now, they’re not producing as many children in the schools.\u201d<\/p>\n The district\u2019s limited spring rollout of Destination Mansfield brought in about 30 students, said Scott, for grades K through 4. This time it\u2019ll include all grades.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s about time, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery district that touches us has had open enrollment for the last several years,\u201d Scott said. \u201cWe\u2019re kind of the last one to the table here.\u201d<\/p>\n Several districts across North Texas \u2014 including nearby Grand Prairie and Arlington \u2014 offer open enrollment. Frisco ISD began Access Frisco last year; McKinney announced its Choose McKinney ISD program this spring. Both districts are facing falling enrollment and planning to close at least one campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mansfield isn\u2019t facing school closures, but it is operating with a budget deficit of more than $10 million. \u201cWe’re sitting here having a conversation about fighting over kids or recruiting kids or attracting kids,\u201d he said, \u201cversus how could we get together and best serve kids.\u201d<\/p>\n Bill Zeeble is KERA\u2019s education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at\u00a0bzeeble@kera.org<\/a>. You can follow him on X\u00a0@bzeeble<\/a>.<\/p>\n KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider\u00a0making a tax-deductible gift today<\/a>. Thank you.<\/p>\n
Scott\u2019s not sure how many outside students Mansfield might attract. The district welcomes any who are interested, because in Texas, state funding follows the student \u2014 though Scott said he wishes that would change.<\/p>\n