Houston ISD has seen tens of thousands of kids in its boundaries choose to attend charter schools over the past decade, as more charter operators have opened and existing networks have significantly expanded their footprint.
A Houston Landing analysis of student transfer data, which details how many students living in an independent school district attend a charter school or another public school district, shows more than 50,000 children in HISD’s boundaries opted to enroll in a charter school in 2023-24. The Texas Education Agency publishes student transfer data each year.
Charter schools are largely funded by state tax dollars, but they’re run by unelected nonprofit governing boards. Supporters of charters argue they give parents more options, particularly in places with low-performing schools. Opponents say they’re unaccountable to taxpayers and siphon money away from traditional public schools, which are funded in large part based on the number of students enrolled.
Charter schools certainly have hurt HISD’s enrollment in recent years, which ultimately impacts the district’s bottom line if it doesn’t make spending cuts that account for the loss in students. However, charters alone don’t explain HISD’s enrollment decline. Fewer school-age children live in HISD than in years past.
Making the move: The number of students living in HISD’s territory choosing to attend charter school has risen in recent years, while the district’s enrollment has dropped during that time.
Over the past ten school years, the number of HISD transfers to charter schools has grown by about 18,000 students, or 54 percent. Meanwhile, HISD’s enrollment has fallen by about 31,000 students, or 17 percent.
Those figures will grow in 2024-25, as local charter schools have continued to expand and HISD’s enrollment dropped by 8,600 students in the fourth week of the school year amid a controversial state takeover of the district.
Dozens of options: HISD students transferred to 50 different charter schools last school year, ranging from large statewide networks to small charters with a few hundred students.
The most popular choices were KIPP Texas Public Schools and YES Prep Public Schools, which enrolled 14,221 and 13,363 students living in HISD, respectively.
Top of the class: Compared to other large, urban school districts in Texas, HISD saw the largest number of students transfer to charter schools relative to its enrollment last year.
The 52,000 students leaving HISD for charters was equal to 28 percent of HISD’s enrollment. Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Austin ISDs each saw losses equal to 18 percent to 27 percent of their enrollment.
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