Amid enrollment growth in Eanes ISD—which includes over 200 students more than expected in the entirety of the district for 2023-24 school year—elementary-level classes, including Spanish immersion programs, are experiencing an increase of class sizes.
Diving in deeper
Traditionally, the district’s teacher-to-student ratio is 1-to-22. All elementary campuses in EISD will have some classrooms with more than the traditional 22 students, with the exception of Cedar Creek Elementary.
According to the Texas Education Agency, a district must submit a request for a class size exception if a prekindergarten to fourth grade class exceeds the 22-student limit and notify parents of this.
At Eanes Elementary, a fourth grade Spanish immersion class will have 29 students instead of 22 this academic year: a class size increase of 30%.
Parents expressed concerns about this specific class during a special board meeting of the EISD board of trustees Aug. 8.
“The data that I'm seeing here makes me concerned that we're not setting up the Spanish immersion program for success, that we're not setting up my children for success,” said Courtney Johnson, parent of a fourth grade Spanish immersion student at Eanes Elementary.
Due to a lack of physical classroom space, the school is unable to lessen the number of students in that class.
“There are no other grade level classrooms at Eanes that are in a portable, and while, yes, there are portables that are available, presently they are not in a suitable state for a classroom,” Superintendent Jeff Arnett said.
What parents should know
Molly May, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, said on Aug. 8 that the district is looking for a Spanish-speaking teacher’s assistant for the classroom.
As of Aug. 8, the district has not yet officially hired for this role, but a substitute teacher will step in on the first day of school until the position is filled, said May.
“That is an additional adult, who really when you look at that, does make the ratio then 1-to-15, 1-to-14 when you have that additional adult in that classroom,” May said. “We are working diligently to get that person in hopefully next week.”
Members of the board of trustees voiced their opinion on the large class size Aug. 8, citing safety concerns.
“I believe with everything in my being that we are doing the wrong thing here with this class,” Board Member Jennifer Champagne said. “I think it's wrong for the kids educationally. I think I'm really concerned about having that number of bodies in one class and adding two adults in that classroom. I am concerned about the safety aspect of it.”
By the numbers
The 2023-24 budget assumed a district enrollment of 7,500. Preliminary enrollment for the school year instead was 7,729, Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Planning Jeremy Trimble said.
Over 930 transfer applications were approved for this school year, including 490 from outside of the district.
Enrollment at Eanes Elementary last year was 526, and this year 544, resulting in an average class size increase of 3.8% from the 2022-23 school year.
What’s next?
The first day of school is Aug. 16, and the district will monitor the classroom as the year progresses.
“There probably will be more eyes on this classroom and more support for these 29 students than we have in any other class in the district,” Arnett said. “We've spent hundreds of hours this summer talking about all the supports that we can put in place.”
The board of trustees will meet again for a regular meeting Aug. 22. Community members can sign up for public comment at www.eanesisd.net/board/meetings. For more information on EISD, visit www.eanesisd.net.
