"The last one was done in 2008 and 2009 and delivered to the district in 2009," explains Phil Ashby of Abilene Independent School District.
The demographer projected enrollment at a low range, mid range, and high range for the next ten years.
What the report showed was after a rapid decline in student enrollment in the late 90s AISD's enrollment would start to steadily increase or level out.
"If you look at our numbers they are a little higher than the report, but [there are] a couple of factors that the demographers didn't have full knowledge of was two things that have increased our enrollment," says Ashby.
The first thing being policies that were put in place, like the out-of-district transfer policy.
You may remember about 5 years ago when AISD discontinued charging students to enroll in the district when they lived outside the boundary.
"Our growth continues in out-of-district transfers to about 450 to 500 students a year," says Ashby.
The second factor contributing to a larger enrollment than the demographer's report is AISD's international rescue program.
Ashby continues, "That group has brought in a lot of refugee students into our district and we're serving over 250."
When you take the enrollment projection number, add the amount of transfers and the number of refugee students, you get a little over 17,000 which is where the district lies now.
"That means people are being attracted to our schools and to our community and to the variety of programs our district can offer," says Ashby.
The demographer projected enrollment at a low range, mid range, and high range for the next ten years.
What the report showed was after a rapid decline in student enrollment in the late 90s AISD's enrollment would start to steadily increase or level out.
"If you look at our numbers they are a little higher than the report, but [there are] a couple of factors that the demographers didn't have full knowledge of was two things that have increased our enrollment," says Ashby.
The first thing being policies that were put in place, like the out-of-district transfer policy.
You may remember about 5 years ago when AISD discontinued charging students to enroll in the district when they lived outside the boundary.
"Our growth continues in out-of-district transfers to about 450 to 500 students a year," says Ashby.
The second factor contributing to a larger enrollment than the demographer's report is AISD's international rescue program.
Ashby continues, "That group has brought in a lot of refugee students into our district and we're serving over 250."
When you take the enrollment projection number, add the amount of transfers and the number of refugee students, you get a little over 17,000 which is where the district lies now.
"That means people are being attracted to our schools and to our community and to the variety of programs our district can offer," says Ashby.
