Bryan and College Station ISDs entered the 2026-27 school year with fewer students projected than they enrolled a year ago, but district leaders say the local enrollment picture is more nuanced than a simple decline.
Both districts have experienced enrollment changes in recent years as larger graduating classes have been replaced by smaller incoming classes, while demographic shifts and changing school choices continue to affect public school enrollment.
The overview
Community Impact analyzed Texas Education Agency enrollment data for both Bryan and College Station ISDs from school years 2019-20 through 2025-26, along with each district’s early enrollment numbers for 2026-27.
Bryan ISD enrolled 1.13% more students in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24, according to certified data from the TEA.
College Station ISD enrolled 0.6% fewer students in 2023-24 compared to the previous year.
District officials cautioned that projections can change as students enroll, withdraw and attend classes during the school year.
By the numbers
Bryan ISD’s enrollment has fluctuated over the past several years, reaching 16,128 students in 2019-20 before falling during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
College Station ISD has followed a somewhat different pattern. Enrollment increased 3.97% from 2019-20 to 2022-23, before beginning a downward trend.
Putting it in perspective
CSISD Chief Financial Officer Heather Wilson told Community Impact the district said she expected enrollment to be around 1% lower in 2026-27.
The change is largely tied to the district’s grade-level demographics, she said. Larger classes are currently moving through the upper grades while smaller groups of students enter the district.
Wilson said the trend reflects a broader decline in birth rates seen across Texas.
This does not mean every part of the district is losing students. At a Feb. 17 workshop, she noted enrollment growth at campuses including Greens Prairie and Forest Ridge elementary schools.
What's being done
College Station ISD launched its Choose CSISD transfer program for the 2025-26 school year, aiming to attract out-of-district students to join Creek View Elementary and Cypress Grove Intermediate schools.
Bryan ISD Superintendent Ginger Carrabine told Community Impact the district monitors enrollment daily and is working to recruit and retain families through increased communication about programs and opportunities.
The district also launched its tuition-free Bryan ISD Virtual Academy for students in third through 12th grade.
Barbara Ybarra, associate superintendent of teaching & learning, reported more than 230 students applied ahead of the 2026-27 school year, with more than 130 students accepted, as of Aug. 10.
Carrabine said the program is attracting students who were previously homeschooled or attended private schools, charter schools or other districts.
The remote option offers fully virtual and hybrid options and allows students to continue to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics, fine arts, music and career technology.
Early enrollment numbers, Carrabine said, suggest Bryan ISD may be recovering some of the enrollment lost last year, though the district will have a clearer picture later on.
“We are encouraged that families are coming back to us,” she said.
Why it matters
Enrollment matters beyond classroom headcounts as Texas public school funding is largely tied to student average daily attendance. This means changes in enrollment and attendance can affect district revenue and budgeting decisions in turn.
Leaders with both Bryan and College Station ISDs have previously cited enrollment as a factor in their 2026-27 budget planning.
For now, however, both districts report optimism in gaining more students.
One more thing
Community Impact asked both districts for updated enrollment numbers following the start of the 2026-27 school year.
- Bryan ISD: 15,381
- College Station ISD: 13,745
