Over the past five years, student enrollment has nosedived in some of the largest districts in the country. New data suggest the pandemic-driven losses are starting to reverse.
Among the 25 largest school districts, several have lost more than 15% of their students since the 2019-20 school year, according to a new analysis from Burbio, a school data tracking firm. This includes the Los Angeles Unified School District (-15.6%), Houston Independent School District (-15.9%), Albuquerque Public Schools (-15.3%) and Fort Worth ISD (-15.1%).
All but three districts on this list gained students since 2019. These districts include IDEA Public Schools (+60.5%), a nonprofit charter school operator serving primarily impoverished students, Conroe ISD (12.5%) and Greenville County Schools (+0.6%).
However, things seem to be turning around. In the last year, 13 of the top 25 school districts reported enrollment gains, although many were modest.
Here’s a look at how enrollment has shifted in the top 25 districts over the past year:
- New York City Public Schools (NY): -0.9%
- Los Angeles Unified School District (CA): -2.8%
- Chicago Public Schools District 299 (IL): +0.4%
- Clark County School District (NV): -0.9%
- Houston ISD (TX): -4%
- Wake County Schools(NC): +1.1%
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC): +2.2%
- Dallas ISD (TX): +0.4%
- Duval County Public Schools (FL): +1.6%
- Philadelphia City School District (PA): +1.8%
- Memphis-Shelby County Schools (TN): +1%
- Northside ISD (TX): -0.9%
- Jefferson County Public Schools (KY): +0.4%
- San Diego Unified School District (CA): -0.3%
- Denver Public Schools (CO): +2.5%
- Pinelass County Schools (FL): -3.5%
- Davidson County School District (TN): +0.7%
- IDEA Public Schools (TX): +3.4%
- Greenville County Schools (SC): -0.8%
- Baltimore City Public Schools (MD): +1.3%
- Albuquerque Public Schools (NM): -2.6%
- Conroe ISD (TX): +0.8%
- Austin ISD (TX): -0.8%
- Fort Worth ISD (TX): -0.9%
- Fresno Unified School District (CA): -0.6%
