The Problem: School Closures Are Surging
Public school enrollment is dropping — and the consequences are hitting neighborhoods hard.
Case in Point: California
California’s largest district has seen a 43% enrollment drop since 2004 (≈ 2.6% per year). With enrollment tied to funding, districts face deep financial strain — intensified by the expiration of $13.5B in pandemic relief in 2024.
California’s largest district has seen a 43% enrollment drop since 2004 (≈ 2.6% per year). With enrollment tied to funding, districts face deep financial strain — intensified by the expiration of $13.5B in pandemic relief in 2024.
What’s Driving the Enrollment Decline?
1) Fewer Children
U.S. birth rates have fallen by more than 20% since 2007.
2) High Housing Costs
Families are priced out of large metro districts, especially in coastal cities.
3) Private Enrollment Rising
Private school enrollment is at its highest level since the 2008–09 school year.
School Closures: The Default “Solution” — But at What Cost?
Why districts consider closures:
But closures carry heavy fallout:
Why Walking & Biking to School Matter
Alternatives to School Closures
Closing Message
School closures aren’t just budget decisions — they reshape neighborhoods and opportunity.
The challenge is real, but so are the solutions.
The question isn’t “Should we close schools?”
It’s “How do we transform them into the community centers families still need?”