Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has experienced a significant decline in enrollment, with preliminary data showing a drop of 11,500 students since the previous school year, bringing the total to just under 304,678 students. This marks one of the largest single-year drops in over a decade and accelerates a long-term trend of decreasing enrollment that has seen the student body shrink from nearly 439,000 in the 2002-2003 school year. This decline occurs amid federal immigrant deportation campaigns, with some of the most substantial drops concentrated in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. For example, Kelly High School in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side saw its enrollment decrease by over 200 students.
The decrease in enrollment poses potential financial challenges for CPS, which is already grappling with a record $10.11 billion budget despite serving fewer students. From 2020 to 2025, enrollment fell by more than 24,000 students (7%), while annual operating expenses increased by $2.4 billion (39%), with the district adding 8,250 positions during that period. This mismatch contributes to recurring deficits, with the fiscal 2027 budget starting with a projected deficit of $732.5 million. The budget relies on temporary fixes and assumptions of additional state funding that has not yet been awarded.
Enrollment declines have been particularly pronounced among Latinx and Black/African American students, although white and Asian student populations saw slight upticks. The number of new students enrolling in the 2026 school year was 10,591 fewer than in the 2025 school year. Fifty-four percent of CPS schools are considered underutilized, operating below 70% capacity, and some are nearly empty. A moratorium on school closures is set to end after the current school year, necessitating a comprehensive long-term facilities strategy. The district's budget process for schools has shifted to grant a minimum number of staff and additional resources based on student needs rather than solely enrollment numbers, but the overall decline in students, particularly low-income students, could impact future state funding classifications.
