Districts Weigh School Closures as Enrollment Falls
School districts across the United States — including St. Louis, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston and Norfolk — are considering closing or consolidating schools as enrollment declines strain budgets. The trend, driven by a falling birthrate, post‑COVID funding rollbacks, and shifts to school choice and homeschooling, is backed by NCES projections and recent research showing thousands of schools have seen steep enrollment drops and potential persistent harms to displaced students.
Education
Local Government/Policy
📰 Sources (1)
As enrollment falls, districts mull which schools to close. The decisions have big impacts for kids
New information:
- Nearly 1 in 12 public schools (about 5,100) experienced enrollment declines of 20% or more from 2019 to 2023, per a Thomas B. Fordham Institute report.
- NCES projects public school enrollment will fall 5.5% between 2022 and 2031.
- St. Louis Public Schools’ student population declined from 115,543 in 1967 to 18,122 last year; several neighborhood schools remained closed this fall after tornado damage.