Enrollment down 895 students as ECISD tracks migration, homeschooling trends

Arnoldo Mata

Edinburg TX – Edinburg CISD is serving 32,483 students this year, about 895 fewer than at the same point in 2023–24, according to an enrollment update presented to trustees during their Dec. 9th regular meeting.

Enrollment as of Dec. 5, the 73rd instructional day, includes 16,202 elementary students (down 488), 6,497 middle school students (down 141) and 9,784 high school students (down 266). The figures include 41 students who have already graduated early this year.

Chief of Accountability Freddy Martinez told trustees that staff are still monitoring 108 migrant students who left at the end of last school year and have not yet re-enrolled. District staff use the statewide Texas Records Exchange system to track students who enroll in other Texas public schools and respond to record requests from out-of-state and international schools.

Martinez said homeschooling and families immigrating to other countries have been among the top reasons for withdrawals since the pandemic, while charter schools account for a smaller share than often assumed. Trustees asked for future reports that show how many students the district is successfully bringing back each month.

Board members expressed concern about the financial impact of the decline, noting that state funding is tied to enrollment and attendance. One trustee called the 895-student drop “a lot of money lost,” adding that the district must improve marketing and outreach to highlight ECISD programs and bring families back.

Administrators said the district’s open-enrollment status, new CTE offerings and efforts to engage homeschool families through UIL participation give ECISD tools to attract and retain students.