HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — In exclusive records sent to ABC13 by a source, the district’s preliminary data shows 8,321 fewer students enrolled at HISD this year than in the 2024-25 school year. It is a larger number than the 6,700 students the district originally projected in a May budget meeting.
This is data Eyewitness News has been requesting from the district for weeks, but the district is refusing to release it until the state finalizes it. That source, frustrated with the district, gave us an inside look that shows student enrollment continues to drop year over year.
Here’s a breakdown of the data:
– 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)
So why are students leaving?
The latest numbers come from the 2024-25 school year, when ABC13 found that the majority of students left the district for unknown reasons or because they graduated. Since then, Eyewitness News has found that students are leaving for private schools or to be homeschooled.
During the last two school years, 2,762 students left HISD for private schools within Texas or for homeschooling. That’s a 40% increase when compared to the two years before Miles took over.
It’s worth noting that moving from one public district to another is considered moving, not leaving, and therefore it’s not included in these documents.
University of Houston education professor Duncan Klussmann said the number could grow even more soon.
“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 said.
Enrollment matters because students at desks translate to more state funding.
“They look at enrolment overall, but you get funding based on your daily average attendance, so your enrolment may be a certain number, and you’ll get a factor of that number when the state decides exactly how much to send to you, it’s going to be a percent of it. So maybe 94%, 95%, 93% of that number, so enrolment is very important, is attendance, and your attendance rate,” Klussman said.
With those 8,321 fewer students this year, that breaks down to more than $51 million in revenue HISD won’t receive. That’s based on a per-student allotment of $6,160.
HISD said Friday, they’ll get us the enrollment number from Oct. 31st, which this data should be based on.
For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Copyright © 2025 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Niko Travis is a dedicated health writer with a passion for providing clear, reliable, and research-backed information about medications and mental health. As the author behind TrazodoneSUC, Niko simplifies complex medical topics to help readers understand the benefits, uses, and potential risks of Trazodone. With a commitment to accuracy and well-being, Niko ensures that every article empowers readers to make informed decisions about their health.
