News
BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & ISABELLA ZEFF
Commission OKs new child care academy Willowbrae Childcare Academy could soon move into an empty building on Coit Road. The details Plans for the 12,450-square-foot building, located at 500 N. Coit Road, were approved by Richardson’s City Plan Commission. The center plans to sign a 10-year initial lease if City Council gives final approval, according to city documents.
Richardson ISD enrollment down 1.76% Richardson ISD’s enrollment is down by 652 students from last year, according to district data. The big picture RISD’s enrollment as of Oct. 27 is 36,969—down by more than 2,700 students since the district’s enrollment peaked in 2019. Nearly 80% of the 652-student decrease in enrollment came from RISD’s emergent bilingual population, according to the presentation. “We don’t know specifically why, but ... we do know that many families have made decisions to return back to their home countries or to move closer to family,” RISD Assistant Superintendent Matthew Gibbins said. Looking ahead District staff are considering several initiatives to address declining enrollment, including
Campus level
Oct. 25, 2024
Oct. 27, 2025
Percent change
Elementary school
-2.45%
21,302
20,781
-0.46%
Junior High 5,265
5,241
-1.03%
High school 10,402
10,295
SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
enhancement of its open enrollment program, which was instituted earlier this year and allows out-of-district students to transfer into RISD. The presentation also noted eliminating barriers in the transfer and enrollment process, upgrades to Magnet and Choice programs, developing a virtual school option and increased marketing as potential strategies. “Our goal is to figure out what Richardson ISD needs to look like in the future to recover these students and get them back in Richardson ISD,” Superintendent Tabitha Branum said.
ARAPAHO RD.
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RISD approves 2026-27, 2027-28 academic calendars
• Nov. 2-3: Student holiday/staff professional learning day • Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day • Feb. 15: Student holiday/staff professional learning day The approved 2027-28 calendar, also 174 days, will start on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The first semes- ter will end on Dec. 17 and winter break is planned for Dec. 20-Jan. 4. The second semester will start on Wednesday, Jan. 5 and end on May 24.
Wednesday, Jan. 6 and end on May 26. Thanksgiving break will run from Nov. 23-27 and spring break is tentatively planned for March 15-19. Superintendent Tabitha Branum said RISD is waiting for Dallas College’s confirmation of their dates. Other student holidays for 2026-27 include:
The Richardson ISD board of trustees approved the academic calendars for both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years at its Dec. 11 meeting. The details The approved 2026-27 calendar runs 174 days. The first semester will begin Wednesday, Aug. 12 and end Dec. 18, followed by winter break from Dec. 21-Jan. 5. The second semester will start
• Sept. 7: Labor Day • Oct. 8-12: Fall break
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Pictured is Ross, available at Richardson Humane Society. For more information, visit richardsonhumanesociety.org.
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RICHARDSON EDITION
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