At the start of the 2026-27 school year, 31,759 students enrolled in Corpus Christi ISD schools ahead of the first day on Aug. 11.
Usually, students continue to trickle in over the first few days. The Corpus Christi Independent School District would need about 280 to break even with last year’s official enrollment counts, based on Texas Education Agency data.
Many new students were arriving at a new campus — not just the ones promoted to the next campus type.
Corpus Christi ISD closed seven campuses: Travis, Fannin, Kostoryz and Sanders elementary schools and Martin, Browne and Haas middle schools. Students were moved to Adkins, Grant and Hamlin middle schools and Allen, Garcia, Shaw, Zavala, Berlanga, Houston, Hicks, Dawson, Galvan, Los Encinos and Yeager elementary schools.
One new program at Corpus Christi ISD is the district’s Digital Scholars Academy, a virtual school program for grades 10-12.
Some families also had to adjust to new start and end times. Unable to hire enough bus drivers to get all students to school on time under the previous schedule, the district announced a new schedule.
The Early Childhood Development Center, Metro School of Design and Windsor Park Elementary School begin at 8:10 a.m. All other elementary schools begin at 7:50 a.m. Middle schools other than Metro Prep School of Design begin at 8:30 a.m. High schools begin at 8:50 a.m.
The district had 50 bus driver vacancies ahead of the school year.
Teacher vacancies in Corpus Christi ISD
The district has also struggled to hire enough teachers to fill every classroom. Just before the first day, the district still had 97 teacher positions unfilled, according to data shared by the district.
Due to a lack of fully certified teachers, the district allows uncertified teachers in certain subjects, as well as some teachers who are certified, but not in the core subject they teach. The district submitted a plan last year to the state to delay requirements for all teachers in foundational subjects to be certified until the 2029-30 school year.
This year, 178 Corpus Christi ISD teachers are uncertified. More than 146 associate teachers are currently working to complete teacher certification.
Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Merged schools, teacher shortage: Corpus Christi ISD school year begins
Reporting by Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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By Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
