Houston Independent School District has lost roughly 21,000 students since the state took control of the district in 2023, contributing to an estimated $190 million decline in state funding as enrollment continues to fall.

The enrollment losses have accelerated amid increased federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, with Hispanic and immigrant students accounting for a significant portion of the recent decline. HISD’s immigrant student population alone fell by nearly 4,000 students, or about 22%, during the 2025-26 school year.

HISD, the largest school district in Texas, lost nearly 7,900 students during the 2025-26 school year, bringing enrollment to about 168,800 students. Hispanic enrollment fell by approximately 6% during the year, the steepest decline among the district’s largest racial and ethnic groups.

The decline has had a direct effect on district finances. HISD receives at least $6,160 in state funding per student, meaning the loss of thousands of students reduces the amount of state funding available to the district. Earlier estimates placed the loss of 8,300 students at roughly $51 million in annual state funding, while the broader 21,000-student decline since the state takeover has translated into approximately $190 million less state funding, according to the Texas Tribune.

HISD has responded to the shrinking enrollment with significant cuts. The district has eliminated roughly 1,500 central-office positions, more than 200 wraparound specialist positions and 85 bus routes, while also drawing nearly $450 million from its reserves during the first two years of the state takeover.

District officials have attributed part of the recent enrollment decline to increased immigration enforcement. State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles said fewer students could ultimately mean fewer teachers, central-office employees and other services. At the same time, reporting has found that some immigrant families remain in Houston but have stopped sending children to school because of concerns about immigration enforcement.

The enrollment decline is not entirely attributable to immigration enforcement. HISD had already been losing students for years, and its total enrollment fell by nearly 20,000 students between 2020 and 2025. The district’s immigrant population actually increased during much of that period before declining sharply in 2025-26.

The financial consequences extend beyond HISD’s budget, as changes in enrollment affect the amount of state education funding distributed to the district. The figures have also become part of a broader debate over immigration enforcement, school enrollment, and the cost of providing public services in communities experiencing rapid demographic changes.