Chicago Public Schools (CPS) experienced a significant decline in enrollment this fall, losing over 11,500 students compared to the previous year. This drop brings the district's total student population to just under 304,678. Over the past decade, CPS has seen a loss of approximately 76,000 students, highlighting a persistent downward trend.
Despite this substantial decrease, CPS officials noted that the district has reclaimed its position as the third-largest public school system in the U.S., surpassing Miami-Dade. Superintendent Macquline King described this as a bittersweet victory, stating, "It’s like winning because somebody tripped," as other large urban districts are also facing enrollment challenges. King emphasized the district's focus on improving the quality of education and student experience to attract and retain students.
The declining enrollment is attributed to several factors, including plummeting birth rates in Chicago—down 37% between 2010 and 2023—slowing immigration, and a mass exodus of families from the city. This has resulted in a growing number of severely underenrolled schools, with 135,000 unutilized seats. Small high schools on the West and South Sides, as well as former Acero schools and Chicago Arts High School, were particularly hard hit, with some losing more than a fifth of their enrollment.
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and community nonprofits are advocating for an extension of the school closure moratorium, which is set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 school year. They argue that closures destabilize neighborhoods and disproportionately affect Black students, citing research linking vacant school buildings to increased gun violence. Annise Lewis, CPS’s deputy chief education officer, highlighted the severe overcapacity issue, stating, “The district is left with 135,000 plus seats with no children to put in them.”
The district's racial makeup remains largely consistent, with Latino students comprising about 46% of the student body. The number of students with disabilities continued to rise, now exceeding 18% of enrollment. While the proportion of low-income students dipped below 70%, CPS is working to update demographic data, which may affect these figures. Some areas, like the Lower West Side, experienced more than a 50% loss in enrollment, while others, such as O’Hare, the Loop, and Lincoln Park, saw increases. The ongoing enrollment decline presents significant budget challenges for the district, and the future of underutilized school buildings is a contentious issue, especially with a school board election approaching.
