El Paso County Sees 2.7% Drop in School Enrollment Amid Demographic Changes

El Paso County's student enrollment has decreased by 2.7% for the 2025-26 school year, totaling 160,463 students across public and charter schools. This decline is attributed to a significant drop in birth rates and ongoing migration patterns, with the county losing around 4,500 students since last year, resulting in a loss of approximately $31.5 million in state funding. Each of the nine traditional school districts experienced enrollment declines, with the most affected being Anthony at 6%. The trend is expected to continue as the number of births in the county has fallen drastically since 1993, indicating a long-term impact on future enrollment figures.

Key Details: • Total enrollment dropped to 160,463 students, a 2.7% decrease from last year. • El Paso County lost about $31.5 million in state funding due to declining enrollment. • Enrollment in traditional public school districts fell by 3%, with Anthony ISD seeing the largest drop at 6%. • Parents can send students to any school outside their district, with over 30,000 students attending schools outside their home districts.