Classrooms across San Diego County are growing quieter, andthe numbers back it up.
Data released by the California Department of Education shows public school enrollment is dropping again, part ofa statewide lossof 74,961 students, the sharpest decline since the pandemic.
Locally, nearly 3,900 students disappeared from San Diego County schools in just one year.The longer view is even more stark: enrollment has fallen by 33,000 over the past eight years.
The region’s largest district, San Diego Unified, alone lost 1,309 students compared to last year.
What’s driving the exodus? Fewer children, and fewer families staying put.“We just find that families are having less kids,” Dr. Kristine Shipman of the county Office of Education toldCBS 8.But the issue goes beyond birth rates.
Thecost of living is pushing families outof the region entirely, Shipman said.
For many, the solution is leaving.
“We’re finding that some younger families are choosing to relocate out of the area [to] find affordable housing for their families with a yard that their kids can play in,” she added.
That population shift is hitting school budgets hard.With funding tied to attendance, fewer students means fewer dollars and tough choices.
Another factor: fewer migrant students enrolling as agricultural jobs decline.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
