Thousands of San Diego students left local public schools
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San Diego and other large U.S. cities are grappling with too many underpopulated schools.
Why it matters: Public-school funding is tied to student populations and attendance, so declining enrollment (and chronic absenteeism) can result in school closures and cuts to classes, staffing, extracurriculars and sports.
By the numbers: San Diego Unified lost more than 8,200 students from the 2019 to 2022 school years — an 8.1% drop — according to recent data from the Brookings Institution.
- That's more than double the U.S. average of 3.2%.
Zoom in: San Diego Unified's enrollment is falling by 2% on average each year, despite the flood of new students in transitional kindergarten classes, The Union-Tribune reported.
- Getting more 4-year-olds in that grade level could help boost enrollment down the line, according to district officials.
- This past school year, Hoover High and San Diego High school clusters saw the biggest percentage drops — a 3% and 4% respectively from 2022-23, per the U-T.
- Meanwhile, Madison High and Mission Bay High school clusters added 24% and 17% respectively.
The intrigue: The school district is also expanding the number of community schools, which offer on-site services from health care to food pantries, to keep families in neighborhood public schools.
Between the lines: A Brookings analysis released last month found parents have been turned off from traditional public schooling since COVID for reasons including a desire for more learning flexibility.
- More San Diego students are also attending private schools and being homeschooled.
- Yes, but: Experts at the Public Policy Institute of California say the biggest factors in the enrollment declines are falling birth rates and population declines as people move out of the state.
- San Diego is also one of the most expensive cities to raise a family and housing is unaffordable for many, including teachers.
Zoom out: Other cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City are also seeing enrollment declines, which is forcing difficult decisions to close schools, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The big picture: Nationally, enrollment at public schools in urban areas dropped more than 5% — more than 84,000 students — over the same period.
- The number of urban schools also decreased by 0.3%, or 68 schools.
- Schools with more students of color and higher poverty levels have been more likely to close.
Threat level: In the South Bay Union School District, officials are considering school closures amid enrollment and financial challenges, inewsource reported.