With just days into the new school year, Dallas ISD is experiencing record enrollment.
On Aug. 22, Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde, Ed.D., briefed the Board of Trustees on the most recent enrollment numbers for the 2024-2025 school year.
“After declining for nine years in a row, enrollment is up and has already exceeded our projections,” said Elizalde. “That is a testimony to our campus leaders, our teachers, our community partners, our parents, and this Board of Trustees.”
The district projected 137,500 students for the current school year, based on a school-by-school analysis. However, as of day nine, the district enrolled 139,138 students—a jump of nearly 2,800 students compared to the same time last year and over 1,500 more than anticipated.
This increase is notable given the statewide trend of declining enrollment.
District 7 Board of Trustee Ben Mackey praised the hard work of everyone involved.
“Enrollment is up because of the good work that has happened,” he said. “This state has had a huge trend down in enrollment, so this is an enormous testament to the students, the staff, the families, and everyone who has been doing the work.”
Much of the growth has been driven by a significant increase in pre-K and kindergarten enrollment, a positive sign that more parents are feeling confident about sending their young children to school after the COVID-19 pandemic.
District leadership expects enrollment numbers to continue to rise through mid-September, Elizalde added.
“Thank you to all of the parents, to the teachers, to the principals, to the support staff, to our community who have chosen Dallas ISD as their destination district,” she said.
