Overview

• California's public school enrollment fell to 5,806,221 students in the 2024-25 school year, a 0.54% decrease from the previous year and the seventh consecutive year of decline.
• The number of students experiencing homelessness increased by more than 9%, reaching over 230,000, raising concerns about academic performance and resource demands.
• Transitional kindergarten enrollment grew 17% to 177,570 students, driven by expanded eligibility for 4-year-olds, but remains far below the state’s long-term target.
• Districts like Santa Ana Unified are cutting jobs and grappling with budget deficits due to enrollment drops, reduced state funding, and the end of federal pandemic relief aid.
• Private, charter, and home-school enrollments have risen since the pandemic, reflecting a broader shift away from traditional public schools.