Essential education reporting across America

School Enrollment

A student looks up toward a video while sitting on the floor, as other students sit behind him.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Early Childhood Education
Can Detroit student enrollment increase despite Michigan’s population crisis?
DPSCD student enrollment and the city’s overall population have been on a steady decline in recent decades.
By Ethan Bakuli
 
Chancellor David Banks welcomes students back on the first day of classes in NYC.
From Chalkbeat New York School Enrollment
NYC plans to keep school budgets steady to start the year, but could make cuts later
The decision to start the new school year with steady budgets, however, doesn’t mean schools are completely immune from cuts.
By Reema Amin and Alex Zimmerman
 
A empty school hallway.
From Chalkbeat Detroit School Enrollment
DPSCD budget cuts bring back memories of past fiscal crises
Officials struggle to reassure the public that planned staff reductions will help stabilize the district’s finances.
By Ethan Bakuli
 
Teens sit at tables scattered around a classroom working on different projects.
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
It’s status quo for class sizes next year under new law, according to NYC’s draft plan
For future school years, education department officials are bracing for some big expenses to comply with the law.
By Amy Zimmer and Reema Amin
 
Empty classroom of desks.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Shrinking Schools
Takeaways from Jeffco middle and K-8 school enrollment numbers
The Jeffco district expects to make recommendations for middle school and K-8 closures in August.
By Yesenia Robles
 
A woman with her hair pulled up in a bun comforts two children who nestle against her. She’s sitting in a crowded room surrounded by people.
From Chalkbeat Colorado School Enrollment
Jeffco lays out timeline for next phase of closures, including middle schools
Middle school recommendations are expected in August, and will also consider schools at the end of the accountability clock.
By Yesenia Robles
 
A student, wearing a yellow sweater, writes on a whiteboard that hangs on a bright yellow wall.
From Chalkbeat New York English language learners
With wave of asylum seekers, NYC schools struggle to provide mandated English instruction
As the city expects another wave of newcomer immigrant families, educators are worried it will become even more challenging to support English learners.
By Reema Amin
 
Children (7-12) sitting around table, having discussion, elevated view - stock photo
From Chalkbeat New York School Enrollment
NYC schools expect enrollment to remain steady after steep pandemic losses
The latest enrollment figures hold major implications for school funding across the five boroughs.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
Students raise their hands in the classroom, with the text “Plains Indians” projected on the white board at the front of the class.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
Increased school funding and more charter schools included in New York state budget
In total, New York City schools will receive about 4% more in funding than last year.
By Reema Amin
 
A woman in a red shirt holds a small child in a jean jacket in front of a brick school building with blue pillars.
From Chalkbeat New York School Enrollment
Enrollment at NYC’s alternative high schools tanked during the pandemic. Can it rebound?
Transfer schools, which serve students who are at risk of dropping out, are in a precarious position. 70% of them now enroll fewer than 200 students.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
Students and parents hold signs on the steps at the Department of Education’s Lower Manhattan headquarters to expand the Gifted & Talented program. Oct. 14, 2021.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
City education council elections bring polarizing national issues to local school districts
Opponents — and even some of their endorsed candidates — say one well-organized parent group is turning Community Education Councils into forums for right-wing animosity over issues like critical race theory and the treatment of LGBTQ+ youth.
By Safiyah Riddle, THE CITY
 
An exterior shot of the New York State Capitol building in Albany, N.Y.
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
More than a dozen NYC charters would open after 4-year pause under state budget deal
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push for more charter schools in New York City emerged as one of the last items holding up the overdue state budget — and her keen interest puzzled many following the issue.
By Reema Amin
 
A man stands at a podium flanked by two people on either side.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
NYC’s education budget could drop by $960M next year under mayor’s proposal
Two-thirds of that cut, or about $650 million, is the result of Adams’ decision to reduce the city’s contribution to the education department.
By Alex Zimmerman and Reema Amin
 
A close up of a woman in front of an American flag.
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
Charter schools emerge as key issue holding up New York’s state budget, as Hochul narrows her proposal
Lawmakers could solidify a final budget as early as this week, but charter schools have been a sticking point.
By Reema Amin
 
Desks in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat New York School Enrollment
‘This would be a closure’: Two Upper West Side middle schools fight merger as city panel vote looms
“When it comes to these small, close-knit communities that are so tight, it really does feel like you’re breaking up families,” one local education council member said.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
Students at P.S. 89 in Brooklyn await their families at the end of the school day during the last week of New York City’s 2020-2021 school year.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID Stimulus
As NYC enrollment has dropped, per-student spending has grown past $37K: report
The education department’s spending per pupil has increased by 46%, in large part due to the billions in federal COVID aid the district received as enrollment has dipped.
By Reema Amin
 
Young boys in blue shirts and khaki pants or short play basketball on an outdoor court.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Shrinking Schools
Denver school board considering 600-student limit at larger elementary schools
Capping enrollment at popular elementary schools could bolster enrollment at smaller schools that have been losing students.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A girl at a student desk writing on a piece of paper. A calculator is also on the desk.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Charters & Choice
New poverty research could bring more clarity to charter school comparisons
Detailed family income data has the potential to shape how schools are evaluated, staffed, and even funded.
By Koby Levin
 
Orange and yellow bulldozers maneuver through a large pile of dirt under a blue sky outside of a new tan, two-story school building that is nearing completion.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
MSCS construction plans would be governed by a countywide board under official’s proposal
Some Shelby County commissioners are pushing for more accountability in developing and funding projects.
By Laura Testino
 
Students hold up signs in front of a brick building
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia School Enrollment
Philadelphia schools chief announces changes to high school admissions after enrollment protests
Critics of the district’s lottery system had said it would lead to enrollment declines and staff cuts at certain high schools.
By Dale Mezzacappa
 
A Native American student stands at a podium, addressing the school board. His mother and grandmother stand on either side of him. All are wearing traditional dress. His mother and grandmother have red painted handprints over their mouths.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charters & Choice
American Indian Academy of Denver will be the fourth Denver middle school to close this spring
The 3-year-old charter school cited low enrollment and high costs as the reasons for the closure in a resolution passed by its board of directors.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Exterior image of Fairview Elementary shows a short stairway, mosaic tile, and colorful murals.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Tres escuelas de Denver cerrarán al final del año escolar
Las escuelas Fairview Elementary, Math and Science Leadership Academy y Denver Discovery School cerrarán al final de este año escolar por tener una inscripción sumamente baja.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Two men in suits and ties stand close together on a stage, in front of a screen showing a man with a microphone.
From Chalkbeat Chicago School Enrollment
Chicago mayoral candidates offer radically different plans for the city’s enrollment woes
Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson disagree about how to give under-enrolled campuses a boost
By Mila Koumpilova
 
A student at her locker in a hallway at North-Grand High School in Chicago. Photo by Stacey Rupolo / Chalkbeat —May, 2019 photo—
COVID and Schools COVID and Schools
Dropout rates have ticked up in some states. How big is the problem?
“There just becomes this hopelessness,” one clinician said. “They’re not incentivized to keep going to school, because it’s just too hard, and in fact they may never catch up.”
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
Exterior image of Fairview Elementary shows a short stairway, mosaic tile, and colorful murals.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Denver Public Schools
Denver board votes to close three small schools just one day after recommendation made public
‘These are really tough decisions and none of us are taking them lightly,’ said board member Carrie Olson, who experienced a school closure when she was a teacher.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Two pairs of hands are shown working on an activity for young children. The smaller pair of hands holds a marker and a marker cap, while the larger pair of hands points to the paper.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
As NYC ditches universal 3-K, city hires consultant to study where to move seats
The study comes after Mayor Eric Adams decided earlier this year to pause the expansion of the preschool program for 3-year-olds as planned under former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
By Reema Amin
 
Children play on a yellow slide set on the side of a school building.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Early Childhood Education
Michigan preschool expansion hits snag as providers face funding cuts
A return to pre-pandemic funding policy led some providers to shutter newly opened GSRP classrooms, complicating Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s plans.
By Koby Levin
 
People work in an ornate legislative chamber.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Voucher and charter-friendly bills pass Tennessee Senate, as House speaker proposes home school charters
The bills would advance Gov. Bill Lee’s school choice agenda
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Denver school board members sit at a dais in a gymnasium. The audience sits in folding chairs with their backs to the camera. A big screen shows a stopwatch counting down.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Shrinking Schools
Denver school board wants better communication with parents as district weighs school closure
“Clear communication with answers at meetings is going to be vital and imperative,” board member Carrie Olson said.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A Harbor Heights middle school sign above a green tile floor.
From Chalkbeat New York English language learners
Proposed merger of bilingual Washington Heights middle school sparks parent concerns
Harbor Heights Middle School, which had just over 100 students before the pandemic, dropped to an enrollment of around 60 students this year.
By Michael Elsen-Rooney
 
More Stories
Icon-heart-donate
If you value Chalkbeat, consider making a donation
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to providing the information families and educators need, but this kind of work isn’t possible without your help.
icon-events

Connect with your community

Find upcoming events

Events