Continued enrollment declines at Chicago Public Schools could escalate into a “crisis” that would significantly affect the city’s public education system in the years ahead, according to a new report from Kids First Chicago.
CPS’ current enrollment is more than 316,000 students — a near 28% decrease of more than 122,000 students since 2002-2003.
This change reflects a broader district-wide pattern driven by several factors, including a drop in birth rates over the past decade and a smaller population of school-aged children living in Chicago, according to data compiled by the local education nonprofit.
The district’s diminished student roster isn’t the crux of the problem, according to Hal Woods, chief policy officer at Kids First Chicago. “What makes this a crisis is the lack of a serious plan for how to adapt to it. That leaves students in smaller schools with fewer opportunities and no clear path forward,” he said.
His concerns underscore a crucial shift in the district over the past few years.
A decade ago, 3 out of 4 students attending school in Chicago were enrolled in CPS.
However, between 2014 and 2023, the number of school-aged children living in the city plunged by roughly 15% — or about 80,000 children — the report highlighted. Subsequently, the number of school-aged children attending CPS slid nearly 5% — or 18,000 fewer students — by 2023, the most recent data available.
Exodus from the government schools continues.
