Plano ISD enrollment down more than 2,500 students from last school year

Plano ISD’s enrollment is down by more than 2,500 students from last school year.

The big picture

As of Sept. 4, the district had 41,303 students enrolled in all grade levels, down from 43,838 in October of last school year, Deputy Superintendent Johnny Hill told the board of trustees on Sept. 8.

PISD’s total enrollment has dropped in every school year since peaking at 55,659 in the 2011-12 school year. 

Diving deeper

The steepest enrollment declines were at the fourth and 12th grade levels, which lost 362 and 327 students, respectively. The 11th-grade enrollment is down only 20 students from last school year, and sixth grade is the only level to see an increase—adding 17 students from the count in 2025.

Enrollment has increased from the first day of school on Aug. 11, when it sat at 39,077 students. The current total of 41,303 is still below a previous demographer projection for enrollment this school year of 41,830.

“I would be shocked if we could make up that 527 [difference between projected and actual enrollment], but I think we’ll continue to make up some of that between now and the end of October,” Hill said. 

Why it matters

The district receives state funding of approximately $10,000 per student, depending on student characteristics, Hill said.

Hill added that the previously projected 2026-27 budget will be amended in November to account for deficiencies based on enrollment.

“We’ll definitely have to make some adjustments,” Hill said. “We’ll cut back on our expenses accordingly based on the fact that we don’t have quite as many students to educate.”