BY BROOKE SJOBERG
What they're saying
Looking ahead
“Even the money that they allocated to account for inflation was not even
nearly enough. ... Almost every school district in the state of Texas is going through tough times.” HAFEDH AZAIEZ, ROUND ROCK ISD SUPERINTENDENT
Other factors that could cause a drop in enrollment, Templeton said, include growing participation in charter schools, online education platforms, homeschooling and the upcoming education savings account program, which is set to begin with the 2026-27 school year. Going into the 2025-26 school year, administrators confirmed that the district had reduced positions by attrition, with enrollment projected to be nearly flat. Azaiez said the district budgeted for this school year to accommodate the middle-growth scenario, or an additional 90 students, and could absorb up to a 500-student decline in enrollment without making additional budget changes. Official enrollment figures for this school year will be determined in October.
RRISD saw growth in student enrollment of about 880 students for the 2024-25 school year, Templeton said, well above what his firm projected for the school district. The district’s marketing campaign drew addi- tional students to its early childhood programs, and the higher of the three future enrollment scenarios is based on the assumption that RRISD would continue to aggressively recruit new students. Amid the rise of alternatives to public schools, Azaiez said the district is working to tell its own story. “There’s nothing like Round Rock ISD,” Azaiez said. “The opportunities and the choices that students have with us—there is no match in virtual, private, charter or even surrounding school districts. We are a destination district.” When Kortney and Xavier Martinez were looking for their new home, they said education was top of mind. Kortney said the opportunities at RRISD were a deciding factor in purchasing their home
in February 2024 through a first-time homebuyers program. “Without that program, we wouldn’t have probably been able to purchase a home in the area because of the home prices,” Kortney Martinez said. The district will continue its recruiting efforts in the coming years, Azaiez said, as enrollment has a direct impact on funding. For each student in the district, RRISD receives $6,215 in basic allotment funding. Students who meet other criteria, such as receiving special educa- tion services or career and technical education, can bring additional funding for the district.
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