Plano ISD started the 2026-27 school year with a noticeably smaller student population. The district reported 41,303 students enrolled as of Sept. 4, a decrease of 2,535 students from the 43,838 recorded in October 2025.
Deputy Superintendent Johnny Hill shared the latest enrollment figures with the Plano ISD Board of Trustees during its Sept. 8 meeting. The latest count continues a yearslong decline in enrollment across the district and comes as Plano ISD works to close a significant budget gap.
Where The Largest Drops Are Seen
Enrollment declined at nearly every grade level, though the size of the drop varied. Fourth grade recorded the largest decrease, with 362 fewer students than last school year. The 12th grade followed with a decline of 327 students. The 11th grade saw a much smaller decrease of 20 students. Sixth grade was the only level to gain students, adding 17 compared with its 2025 enrollment count.
The district’s overall enrollment decline has consequences beyond classroom numbers, as student counts play a major role in determining state funding.
Past Enrollment Decline Leads To Campus Closures
The shrinking student population has already prompted major changes across Plano ISD. In June 2024, trustees unanimously voted to close Foreman Elementary, Armstrong Middle School, Davis Elementary and Carpenter Middle School. All four campuses closed at the end of the 2025 school year…