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The number of kindergarten through 12th grade public school students in the U.S. has declined in 30 states since the mid-2010s, the New York Times reported.
According to a list of enrollment changes by state from 2014 to 2024 that the outlet indicates was sourced from “National Center for Education Statistics,” West Virginia saw the largest decline at -13.6%, with Mississippi next at -12%, and New Hampshire next at -11.1%.
Washington, D.C., which is not a U.S. state, saw the largest increase at +16.4%, according to the list, with North Dakota coming in next at +12.4%, then Idaho at +8.5%.
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While multiple factors impact enrollment, according to the Times, the outlet claimed that experts indicate the largest factor in falling enrollment is the nation’s record-low fertility rate.
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Enrollment has fallen 9% since 2014 in Portland, Oregon, according to the Times.
“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, according to the Times.
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“So it’s not just about losing students, it’s about the city of Portland losing families,” she noted, according to the outlet.
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