Austin ISD sees an increase in student enrollment

For the first time in seven years, Austin ISD is seeing an increase in student enrollment. 

Compared to this same time last year, the district has added about 680 students, mostly in middle schools. 

That could help the district secure additional funding and potentially close the deficit gap AISD expected to have. “We know that that had dropped to about $3-4 million and now if these numbers hold true, it looks like we may be breaking even. So that's certainly good for the school district,” said Reyne Telles, executive director of communications at AISD.  

There's still some making up to do. “It is important to keep in mind that over the last five years we've seen a loss of about 6,000 students,” Telles said. 

However, the district said new before and after school programs have been helpful when competing with charter schools. “One of the ways we are doing that is through an option we are putting forth through our school changes scenarios and that is being able to provide before school and after school care from 6:30a-6:30p,” said Telles.  

Although enrollment seems to be improving at AISD, the numbers reported thus far could still change.

Official numbers will be taken later this month and then submitted to the Texas Education Agency. 

“At the end of the day, we do realize parents have a choice and we could not be happier that parents are choosing the people and programs behind AISD that makes our district a great choice,” Telles said. The district said another way they have attracted new students is without of district transfers, allowing parents who work in Austin city limits to enroll their kids in AISD even though they live elsewhere.

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