LEANDER, Texas — Leander ISD’s enrollment numbers are declining in some areas, and district leaders are considering open enrollment to turn that around.
On Nov. 21, the district’s Long Range Planning Unit’s subcommittee – comprised of parents, staff and administrative members – presented what it might look like for LISD to enroll more students.
Jeremey Trimble, LISD’s chief operations officer and a member of the subcommittee, said around 42,000 kids are enrolled throughout 48 campuses in the district, but LISD has the space available to fit around 70,000.
At a glance, Trimble said the district’s enrollment numbers are stable, but data shows two extremes. He said while there is growth in the northern part of the district, enrollment numbers are declining in the southern and central portions.
“A lot of that has to do with just the demographic cycle communities becoming built out, looking at regeneration,” Trimble said.
Due to the rising cost of housing, he said families with younger kids are unable to move to those areas and families with students who have already graduated are staying in the communities.
Trimble said now LISD’s graduating senior classes are much larger than the kindergarten classes coming in.
“We base everything on ratios, right? We staff on ratios, etc., but we do have those buildings designed for more students because when they were built, they were built where and when we needed them, based on what the growth looked like at that time,” Trimble said. “And now, we’re looking at those and those could be opportunities for additional students.”
At the school board’s Nov. 21 meeting, Chief Financial Officer Pete Pape said LISD has seen a $4.5 million decrease in state revenue due to low enrollment numbers. Now the board is considering open enrollment to offer available space to other students, while also maintaining the funding the district receives from the state.
“We believe we provide an extraordinary student experience in education here in Leander, so that could be an opportunity for those outside the district to have access to – but also understanding that we get funding by enrollment. You know, the state provides just over $6,000 per student that attends schools within LISD,” Trimble said.
He said the board still has many different factors to consider, like if LISD can support the number of kids that may apply, if it can provide buses, making sure additional enrollment wouldn’t overburden staff and campuses and the distance the district would potential extend its open enrollment out to.
Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, the president of the board, suggested that LISD might consider charging an application fee as another added benefit of implementing open enrollment to some of the campuses.
The subcommittee is set to present more pros and cons to the plan at the next school board meeting in January. Trimble said there is no timeline for the school board to implement open enrollment.