Source: American Greatness
by Larry Sand
“After decades of steady growth, attendance in U.S. K–12 public schools has shifted drastically. Over the past five years, registration has fallen by 2.3 percent, or 1.18 million students, and schools show no signs of rebounding. Lower birth rates are the primary driver of the downturn. The number of births in the U.S. has decreased steadily in recent years, with 690,000 fewer children born in 2024 than in 2007. California lost nearly 75,000 TK–12 students as of the 2025–26 school year, a slide more than twice as steep as the previous year’s. Since 2017–18, the Golden State has seen a 10 percent decline. New York City has also been hard hit. As of the 2025–26 school year, 793,300 students are enrolled in K–12 schools, down nearly 10 percent since 2020. The loss of enrolled students has prompted some desperate measures.” (06/09/26)
https://amgreatness.com/2026/06/09/public-schools-are-in-a-downward-spiral/