HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — While waiting in the Braeburn Elementary pickup line for her daughter, Yoana Martines reminisces about her elementary school days, walking the same halls her child does now.
“The school is a lot more personal. This was my first school when I came to Houston. I came here when I was in the fourth grade,” Martines said.
Martines notes some things haven’t changed at Braeburn in a long time.
“I am very familiar with the staff. I have known a lot of staff since I was a kid, and they are still in the school, which I love,” Martines said.
But recent numbers show a shift, with 11% of students leaving Braeburn since last year.
This isn’t just happening at this school, but across HISD, with enrollment down at 72% of campuses.
On a mobile device? Click here.
This map shows enrollment across the district. Each dot represents a school, with red meaning enrollment loss and blue meaning increase. The larger the dot, the bigger the swing in numbers.
A deep dive into this preliminary district data shows middle schools are seeing the biggest decline, with 8% of middle school students leaving the district. High school is next with 7.5% leaving HISD. Elementary saw the smallest loss with a 5% decrease.
It’s a change Martines worries could mean big impacts for a school that means so much to her family.
“Yeah, potentially it’s going to stop, and get less funding and so on. So, we don’t want that to affect our teachers. There are really great teachers here at this school,” Martines said.
The data shows that most students who leave the district before they graduate are leaving for private schools or to be homeschooled. While this preliminary district data doesn’t break down why elementary students are leaving this year, Martines said she has a few ideas.
“I know parents are choosing a lot of charter schools and things that are outside HISD. It might be some decision that HISD has made,” Martinez said.
ABC13 requested an interview with Superintendent Mike Miles to ask about how enrollment decline could impact the district and future plans. The district communications team said the district won’t be able to comment until enrollment numbers are finalized by the state in mid-December. Eyewitness News will follow up for the interview when the numbers are released.
There is one school that has seen impressive enrollment growth. Texas Connections Academy is an open-enrollment school, free to any 3rd through 12th-grade Texas student who has access to the internet, according to the school’s website. Houston ISD also tells Eyewitness News, the online school has been partnered with the district since 2009.
According to HISD’s October 31 enrollment data, 11,338 students are enrolled for the 2025-26 school year, making it the largest enrollment growth of any district school this year. But HISD said of the more than 11,000 students, historically, less than 500 actually live within district boundaries.
“I do want to say I am thankful to have this option and reiterate that the teachers have been great,” Rachelle Park, a mom with a child at Texas Connections Academy, said.
Park’s child does live within district boundaries and has previously attended in person, but was switched to Texas Connections Academy in October of 2024 after developing a chronic illness that impacted his attendance.
Park said online school has been beneficial to her child in this season of life, but the aim is to get him back on a campus. Park said the success of the program relies on the child, and as a full-time single mom, she feels her son personally needs more structure.
“My experience is that I feel he isn’t really being challenged. I think it’s not anybody’s fault. t’s just the system. It’s hard for a teenage boy to stay motivated,” Park said.
Texas Connection Academy most recently earned a D rating from the TEA. As Superintendent Mike Miles pushes to have all A and B campuses within the district, it’s not clear if the rating will lead to any change in the partnership that first began in 2009.
Even with a lower accountability rating, the campus does bring a big financial boost to the district, with the Texas Connections Academy enrollment numbers alone projected to bring more than $8,000,000 to the district.
ABC13 did speak with the PR company that represents Texas Connection Academy and requested an interview, but the firm said they were unable to meet our deadline.
For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, Twitter 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.
