AUSTIN — Austin Independent School District counted 66,032 students this school year, down from about 69,000 in 2025-26, a decline that district officials say is contributing to a sharp increase in its projected budget deficit. At a school board meeting, CFO Katrina Montgomery said the projected deficit rose from $19 million to $105 million. Lower attendance revenue and lost students are among the factors, she said. Montgomery also reported 6,469 student departures and non-returning students, excluding graduates; the district did not specify the period covered by that figure in its remarks. About 20% of students who left last year moved to charter or private schools, homeschooling or virtual programs, according to district data. By the end of July, roughly 1,000 families living within Austin ISD boundaries had been approved for education savings accounts, though some families later declined them. Families who left the district described different concerns. A former Austin ISD parent identified as Mark said financial uncertainty, larger class sizes and a lack of resources contributed to his decision to keep his son in private school, despite living near Anderson High School and having graduated from Austin ISD. Jenaya Zerrad said she transferred her child to Eanes ISD partly because she wanted a more challenging curriculum. The possibility that her Austin ISD school would cut its French program confirmed her decision, she said, despite the added commute and sacrifice for her family. Austin ISD says its enrollment team is contacting prospective families through emails, phone calls and canvassing. Staff were scheduled to begin door-knocking in southeast, northeast and north-central Austin the week of Oct. 5 to discuss the district with families. The district anticipates making about $60 million in cuts next year, potentially requiring further difficult decisions. Austin ISD has also pointed to declining local birth rates as a factor in enrollment losses. The enrollment slide and budget pressure have immediate stakes for students and families: fewer students mean less attendance-based revenue, while budget reductions could affect the programs and resources districts offer. District leaders have not detailed which services or campuses could be affected by the expected cuts.