In the 2020-21 academic year, the district saw a decrease in enrollment of 1.3%, the report said. Previously, the district had grown by 2.1% in 2018-19 and 0.2% in 2019-20.
“It’s important for us to have that information to make informed decisions about future buildings and attendance patterns,” Superintendent Todd Stephens said at the meeting.
Bob Templeton, vice president of Templeton Demographics, said at the meeting the growth can be attributed to a rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and a surge in residential development within the district. He said the district had historically seen about 400 new home starts a year, however, there were 1,333 annual starts as of the second quarter of 2021.
The district also has 17,800 future lots planned, according to the district’s report. Because of that, Templeton said he anticipates seeing about 600 new students a year for the foreseeable future.
Based on the report, the district would have more than 20,000 students by the 2030-31 academic year.
“We’re looking at a 20-year horizon for future growth,” Templeton said. “It’s not a matter of if these numbers are happening but when.”
Both Magnolia Parkway and Williams elementary schools are projected to be within 5% of their 900-student capacity by the 2023-24 academic year. according to the report. Magnolia Parkway is expected to be over capacity by 2024-25.
In order to help track growth on a daily basis, MISD hired Deanie Murry in August 2021 as its long-range planning coordinator, Stephens said.
“We came to the realization with the amount of growth within our district ... we needed someone on an everyday basis to be tracking the growth of subdivisions and kids and parents moving into this district,” Stephens said.
