College Station ISD is projecting fewer students enrolled in the 2026-27 school year and beyond as the number of students graduating each year is expected to outpace local population growth, Chief Financial Officer Heather Wilson said during a budget presentation to the board of trustees during a Feb. 17 workshop.
With fewer students, the district is also projecting lower revenue for the 2026-27 fiscal year, as the district receives a set amount of funding from the state for each student enrolled in the district.
At a glance
As of the Feb. 17 budget workshop, CSISD is projecting an increase in property tax revenue in FY 2026-27 but less funding from the state. Wilson said projections estimate $152.56 million in revenue in FY 2026-27—down from $153.58 million in projected revenue for the ongoing FY 2025-26.
Although budget projections are preliminary for FY 2026-27, Wilson said 13,835 students are anticipated to be enrolled in the 2026-27 school year, which is a decrease from 13,953 students enrolled in the ongoing 2025-26 school year.
Enrollment projections for the next five years show a continued decrease in overall student enrollment in CSISD.
However, Wilson said she expects the number of incoming kindergarteners to increase this fall, based on a jump in the 2021 birth rate in College Station.
“We have about 900 kindergarteners right now, and I think that number’s going to grow this year,” she said.
In some parts of the district, Wilson said CSISD is seeing enrollment grow, such as at Greens Prairie Elementary and Forest Ridge Elementary.
“I do think we have enrollment growth in our school district; I think a lot of [the decline] is our birth rate ... so we have less [students] coming in, so as our grade levels roll off, you’re going to see that kind of go down,” she said. “We’re growing as a district, but it’s just not showing in our total enrollment numbers because our larger grades are moving off.”
Also of note
To offset some of the decrease in enrollment CSISD is seeing, the district launched Choose CSISD—an out-of-district transfer program—in January. The program allows eligible students who reside outside of CSISD to enroll in specific campuses with additional capacity for the 2026-27 school year, according to district information.
For the program’s inaugural year, students can apply to attend:
- Creek View Elementary (grades K-4)
- Cypress Grove Intermediate (grades 5-6)
Applications opened in January for the new program and are set to close Feb. 27, but Superintendent Tim Harkrider said during the Feb. 17 workshop the district plans to keep the application period open as few applications have been submitted.
“I think the first year is the toughest year to get it out and get [the program] going,” he said. “Your biggest salespeople obviously for us will be those that come here, enjoy their time and then help us get the word out.”
In other news
The board of trustees also heard presentations on staffing requests for FY 2026-27 during the Feb. 17 workshop meeting, including adding:
- An athletic trainer at A&M Consolidated High School and College Station High School
- A full-time assistant choir director at the two high schools
Athletic Director Kevin Starnes said each of the high schools have two existing athletic trainers, but a third athletic trainer is needed to help improve student safety for the more than 2,400 middle and high school students who are involved in CSISD athletic programs.
“There are times where we have [athletic trainer] coverage gaps with overlapping events,” he said. “A third athletic trainer would enhance our student safety and rehabilitation ... and getting them back on the playing field or court as well as on-site medical support more frequently.”
Trustees take no action during a workshop meeting.
Learn more
As the district continues its 2026-27 budget planning, the Advisory Budget Committee is expected to present the committee’s goals at the March board meeting.
