HOUSTON – A new analysis of Texas Education Agency data shows public school enrollment declined by more than 76,000 students last school year, with Hispanic students accounting for the majority of the statewide drop.
The analysis, conducted by Texas 2036 using data from the TEA me found Texas public school enrollment fell by 76,613 students during the 2025-26 school year.
The report also found Hispanic enrollment declined by 61,781 students — accounting for roughly 81% of the statewide decrease.
Community advocates and education experts say there is no single reason behind the decline, but point to several possible factors, including housing instability, political tensions and families seeking alternative education options.
“There is a move for kids to look for alternative means of education, charter schools, et cetera, et cetera,” said Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL Houston.
Espinosa said some immigrant families are also deciding to leave Texas altogether.
“Many of them are deciding to move to other more friendly states, to states where maybe they’re not being persecuted because of immigration status or things of that nature,” Espinosa said.
He warned continued enrollment declines could eventually impact school funding across Texas.
“The less students, the less bodies you have in seats, the less funding people get,” Espinosa said.
Dr. Delilah Davis, an associate professor at Texas Southern University, said some parents are choosing different educational settings because they believe those environments better fit their children’s needs.
“Because they can frame their child’s education experience a little different from in a public environment, they are making those choices,” Dr. Davis said. “It’s just so many variables.”
For some families, the decision has little to do with politics.
Richmond father Robert Torrence said he moved his children from traditional public schools into charter schools after finding programs with smaller classrooms, more rigorous coursework and additional opportunities.
“She’s going to have 40 (credits) by the time she graduates,” Torrence said of one of his daughters.
Advocates say the long-term concern is what continued enrollment declines could mean for the future of public education funding in Texas.