College Station ISD lays out limited out‑of‑district transfer criteria to counter enrollment declines
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Summary
Administration proposed a controlled out‑of‑district transfer program for selected campus pathways, setting academic and behavior criteria, an annual renewal requirement, and a Jan. 5–Feb. 27 application window; transportation will not be provided for transfer students.
Mister Dunson, the district communications director, presented the administration’s plan to open limited out‑of‑district transfers at specified campuses and explained why the district is considering the program. "Out of district transfer ... allows students who live outside of the district's boundaries to apply for enrollment at specific schools within the district," he said, distinguishing the plan from full open enrollment.
Key proposed criteria and logistics included academic and behavior thresholds (discussion referenced an 85% core‑class threshold over the past two school years and limits on referrals), annual renewal of approvals, campus capacity management, and a clear statement that transportation would not be provided for transfer students. The administration proposed Creekview Elementary and Cypress Grove Intermediate among the initial pathway campuses and described a possible lottery for high school seats once the program matures.
Financial context: Dunson and finance staff explained the basic allotment is $6,215 per regular student (with weight increases noted in the presentation to roughly $7,234 depending on student characteristics). The presenters contrasted that with a current total expenditure per student figure the district has been using (~$11,000) to illustrate that enrollment losses drive cost per student higher by spreading fixed campus overhead across fewer students.
Timeline and next steps: administration proposed opening the transfer application window Jan. 5 (after winter break) and closing it Feb. 27, notifying families by March 6, and asking families to confirm intent by March 20. Trustees discussed academic measurement for early grades, financial tradeoffs (marketing costs, potential Title I changes if feeder patterns shift), and asked staff to model net revenue after the program’s operational costs.
The board did not take action and asked administration to finalize application processes, review capacity and guardrails, and return with modeled financial impacts and recommended timelines.