Dallas ISD opened the new school year with fewer students than last fall, and Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde says federal immigration policies are one factor in the decline.
The district reported about 132,000 students on the first day of classes Tuesday, down from roughly 134,300 the previous year, according to KERA News. Elizalde made the comments while visiting Victor Hexter Elementary School in East Dallas.
“Certainly, some policies regarding immigration have had an impact,” Elizalde said. She added that officials expect enrollment to level off but will not have a clearer picture for several more days.
Dallas ISD enrollment dipped in part due to immigration policies, superintendent says https://t.co/0NccsyuaMO
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) August 13, 2026
District leaders also pointed to other contributors. Some families have shifted to the region’s growing number of charter schools. Others are using the state’s new Education Savings Accounts, with more than 2,800 Dallas ISD students qualifying for public funds that can support private school tuition, according to state Comptroller data cited by KERA.
On a brighter note for the district, prekindergarten enrollment reached about 11,000 students. That figure is several hundred higher than recent years, after Dallas ISD expanded free pre-K to more three- and four-year-olds regardless of family income.
Dallas ISD is the second-largest school district in Texas. Enrollment trends affect funding, staffing, and long-term planning. Officials continue to monitor daily attendance and late registrations as the first week of school continues.
The district has also implemented new student ID badges this year that cover transportation, meals, and other services, part of broader operational updates for the 2026-27 school year.
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