Public School Enrollment Drops in 30 US States Since Mid-2010s

Public school enrollment for kindergarten through 12th grade students declined in 30 states since the mid-2010s, according to a New York Times report.

The newspaper cited enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics covering 2014 to 2024. West Virginia recorded the largest drop at 13.6 percent, followed by Mississippi at 12 percent and New Hampshire at 11.1 percent.

Washington, D.C., which is not a state, posted the biggest gain at 16.4 percent. North Dakota followed with 12.4 percent and Idaho with 8.5 percent.

Multiple factors affect enrollment, the Times reported. Experts pointed to the nation's record-low fertility rate as the primary reason for the declines.

In Portland, Oregon, enrollment fell 9 percent since 2014. "People are choosing to raise kids somewhere other than in the city — moving to suburbs or places where they have access to affordable housing," Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong said.

"So it’s not just about losing students, it’s about the city of Portland losing families," she added.