Richardson ISD enrollment expected to grow by nearly 4 percent over the next decade

Richardson ISD enrollment is expected to grow by nearly 4% over the next ten years, according to its most recent demographic report, released Jan. 22.

The district is projected to see an increase of 1,475 students by school year 2029-30, resulting in a total enrollment of 41,116 students, according to the report from Bob Templeton of Templeton Demographics. This projection does not factor in pre-K enrollment, which is expected to increase due to a state mandate that all public school districts provide free, full-day pre-K to qualifying students.

The district also saw historically high student retention at elementary and junior high campuses during the 2019-20 school year.

The report also includes capacity projections. O. Henry Elementary School is project to exceed capacity by SY 2024-25. Brentfield Elementary is projected exceed capacity in SY 2023-24, but will likely see a decline the following years. Mohawk Elementary is expected to exceed capacity in both SYs 2025-26 and 2029-30.

Among school districts in Dallas-Fort Worth, RISD has one of the highest shares of students living in multifamily units. However, this segment of student enrollment has declined, according to the report.

Future pre-K program changes, which include transitioning all classes from half to full-day and increasing the number of available seats, will also impact future enrollment, but Templeton said that data is not yet available for forecasting purposes.