Rising Charter School Enrollment and Its Influence on HISD’s Special Education Population

With the rapid proliferation of charter schools throughout Houston, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) is increasingly tasked with educating a larger proportion of students requiring special education. Although charter schools are attracting more general education students, HISD continues to serve as the primary institution for children with disabilities, resulting in a noticeable shift in enrollment patterns. Recent data indicates that while HISD’s overall student numbers have slightly declined, the district’s special education enrollment has grown significantly, intensifying demands on its resources and exposing disparities in service levels between traditional public schools and charter schools, many of which enroll fewer students with special needs relative to their total populations.

Several factors contribute to this evolving landscape:

• Differences in charter schools’ capacity and commitment to providing special education services.
• Parental decisions influenced by the availability of specialized programs and supports.
• District initiatives focused on retaining and effectively serving students with disabilities.