With public school enrollment declining nationwide, districts are facing the budget constraints that come with losses in per-pupil funding.
Enrollment has dropped at state and district levels in recent years — due primarily to declining birthrates, but also to increased competition for students brought on by an expansion of school choice laws. Some districts, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, have also cited heightened federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration as a factor draining enrollment.
These enrollment declines and the resulting budget pressures are forcing more districts to consider — and approve — school closure and consolidation plans. And with researchers projecting continued enrollment woes in the near future, additional closures and consolidations are likely to follow.
As school districts grapple with this financial challenge, K-12 Dive is tracking key district-approved school closures and consolidations. If you know of other such developments we should include, contact us here.
