A new program has brought dozens of new students to Georgetown ISD.
During an Oct. 19 meeting, GISD officials discussed the impact of opening up out-of-district transfers for the 2026-27 school year. Through the program, the district accepted 70 new students across various campuses, allowing the district to net more revenue.
“In the landscape of school finances, increasing enrollment is a mechanism that increases our funding and our operation ability, so this was something that we felt was necessary for us to pursue,” GISD Chief Operations Officer Wes Vanicek said. “Additionally, we want to be the top choice for families in our area.”
At a glance
While a survey gauging interest in the program received 161 responses, Vanicek said GISD ultimately received 113 applications for out-of-district transfers.
The district ultimately accepted 70 students, contributing to the 175 new students who have joined the district year to date. Vanicek said at least 30 students who reside in the district have returned to GISD.
While the district did not open out-of-district transfers for high school students, Vanicek said there were some instances in which the district was legally required to accept students.
The district did not consider campuses at full capacity for out-of-district transfers as it only allowed transfers to campuses where staffing or operations would not be impacted. If a student applied to a specific program, the district would consider the capacity within that program as well, Vanicek said.
About the program
Targeting enrollment numbers can help increase funding for the district. State funding considers a district’s average daily attendance of enrolled students.
As part of this program, Vanicek said the district considers a student’s attendance and disciplinary history.
Nearby districts, such as Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD, have also adopted out-of-district transfer programs to maintain funding amidst slower enrollment growth.
Looking ahead
Vanicek said the district will begin promoting the program earlier in the spring to draw more families.
“Our next steps are really to refine the systems and ease the process for both the families on the front end as well as the back office side of making sure the kids get in the system smoothly,” Vanicek said.
To retain students, Vanicek said district staff have remained engaged with families by:
Staying in touch with families throughout the application process
Facilitating meetings between families and principals once students are admitted
Remaining connected throughout the fall semester
Out-of-district transfer applications are open until Dec. 4. Accepted students would begin the following semester, on Jan. 6, 2027. Applications received after Dec. 4 would start fall 2027, according to the GISD website.
