The National Center For Educational Statistics reported that public school enrollment in 2020-2021 fell by 3% marking the largest decline since the start of the century.
As anticipated, the declines were mostly concentrated in pre-k, which saw a 22% decrease, and kindergarten, which experienced a 9% dip. Changes included a 3% decrease in grades 1-8, and a slight increase of 0.4% in grades 9-12. Until now, K-12 enrollment had been slowly increasing almost every year since the start of the century,
NCES Acting Commissioner Peggy Carr called the numbers “preliminary but concerning,” noting the enrollment decreases were “widespread and affected almost every single state and every region of the country.” Mississippi and Vermont had the largest declines at 5%, according to the NCES analysis, with Washington, New Mexico, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Maine trailing not far behind at 4% or more. The District of Columbia, South Dakota and Utah saw the smallest enrollment drops, at less than 1%. Illinois was the only state to not submit data.
What are the implications of this preliminary data?
- We already know that children who have not attended pre-school and kindergarten will lack the foundation of learning, necessary to build a successful educational career.
- The youngest students are also the most difficult, if not impossible, to track, considering pre-K students are not yet in districts’ systems.
- Poor and children of color are the most vulnerable.
- The pipeline for new teachers graduating from schools of education has narrowed.
- Where will schools obtain the necessary funds for additional teachers, school counselors and principals?
- How will new staff be brought up to speed to deal with local conditions?
- Will states be able to fund these additional positions?
- How will states help students academically and socially?
NCES plans to release its final findings in spring 2022.