College Station ISD reviews criteria for accepting out-of-district transfer students as enrollment declines

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - College Station Independent School District trustees spent Tuesday night reviewing criteria for accepting out-of-district transfer students as the district works to stabilize enrollment and funding amid a changing public education landscape.

According to CSISD Communications Director Austin Dunson, the district has lost about 300 students this year, prompting officials to explore new strategies to maintain programs and staffing levels. In November, the school board approved a policy change allowing the district to consider out-of-district transfers for the first time.

“The main part of our discussion has been to stabilize enrollment and funding,” Dunson said. “As our enrollment declines, our funding declines because every student comes with state funding to our campuses and to our district.”

The enrollment decline reflects a broader trend across Texas, where about half of all school districts have lost students in recent years. The Texas Education Agency reported its smallest enrollment increase since it began collecting data in its current system.

Several factors contribute to the decline, including the growth of charter schools, increased homeschooling, and the recent approval of Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program. The voucher program, championed by Gov. Greg Abbott, allows families to use public funds for private school tuition and other education expenses.

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“We have districts across the state meeting this month talking about closing schools,” Dunson said. “These are not conversations that we’ve been having specifically in College Station ISD about closing campuses or consolidating programs at this point, but I want the board and community to recognize that this is a reality for a lot of our peer districts.”

The proposed out-of-district transfer system would not operate as an open enrollment program. Students would need to meet specific academic, attendance and behavioral standards to qualify.

Requirements include maintaining at least 85% grades in core classes for the past two school years, 90% or higher attendance for two years, and no more than three disciplinary referrals with no major infractions.

Applications would be reviewed annually, and the district would not provide transportation for out-of-district students. Available campuses include Creek View Elementary, Cypress Grove Intermediate, College Station Middle School and both high schools, with acceptance determined by capacity and lottery draw when necessary.

Superintendent Tim Harkrider said the district must adapt to increased competition in public education.

“We’re in a cycle right now where the formula’s not working for us, and we can either play the victim, or we can try to get proactive,” Harkrider said. “The competition’s real.”

On Tuesday, no decisions were made, only a discussion of what this change could do for the district’s enrollment numbers. Once approved, Dunson said applications would be open January 5th and close February 27.