Chicago Public Schools' Share of City Students Continues to Decline, Report Finds
A recent report from the nonprofit Kids First Chicago reveals that, despite overall declines in birth rates contributing to shrinking enrollment, an increasing number of families are opting for alternative schooling options. The Chicago Public School system (CPS), which had served approximately 75% of the city's school-age population between 2008 and 2018, has seen its share of the population decrease to 71% as of 2023.
Concurrently, enrollment in private schools and students classified as "not enrolled" have both increased. The latter group includes children who are homeschooled, dropped out, or not formally enrolled in an education program. The report suggests that earlier declines in CPS enrollment were primarily driven by demographic factors rather than families choosing non-public options.
However, the trend has shifted, with fewer families selecting CPS for their children. According to the report, if CPS had maintained its historical enrollment rate of 75%, it would be serving approximately 18,000 additional students. The district has seen a decline in enrollment of about 93,000 students since the 2009-2010 school year.
The decrease in birth rates continues to contribute to declining enrollment at CPS, with the city recording nearly half as many live births between 2005 and 2023. This trend is evident in early grades, where enrollment has declined by approximately 27% in kindergarteners since the 2015-16 school year.
The decline in enrollment is not uniform across neighborhoods, with West and South Side areas experiencing the steepest declines while other regions remain relatively stable. The report suggests that low enrollment schools can adapt to this new reality by combining resources and enriching student experiences.
While the district cannot control birth rates or economic conditions, it can take steps to support its students in a changing educational landscape.
A recent report from the nonprofit Kids First Chicago reveals that, despite overall declines in birth rates contributing to shrinking enrollment, an increasing number of families are opting for alternative schooling options. The Chicago Public School system (CPS), which had served approximately 75% of the city's school-age population between 2008 and 2018, has seen its share of the population decrease to 71% as of 2023.
Concurrently, enrollment in private schools and students classified as "not enrolled" have both increased. The latter group includes children who are homeschooled, dropped out, or not formally enrolled in an education program. The report suggests that earlier declines in CPS enrollment were primarily driven by demographic factors rather than families choosing non-public options.
However, the trend has shifted, with fewer families selecting CPS for their children. According to the report, if CPS had maintained its historical enrollment rate of 75%, it would be serving approximately 18,000 additional students. The district has seen a decline in enrollment of about 93,000 students since the 2009-2010 school year.
The decrease in birth rates continues to contribute to declining enrollment at CPS, with the city recording nearly half as many live births between 2005 and 2023. This trend is evident in early grades, where enrollment has declined by approximately 27% in kindergarteners since the 2015-16 school year.
The decline in enrollment is not uniform across neighborhoods, with West and South Side areas experiencing the steepest declines while other regions remain relatively stable. The report suggests that low enrollment schools can adapt to this new reality by combining resources and enriching student experiences.
While the district cannot control birth rates or economic conditions, it can take steps to support its students in a changing educational landscape.
! If CPS was serving 75% of the city's school-age population back in the day, what's wrong with their current model? They're already struggling to keep up with dwindling enrollment, and now they want to just sit around waiting for families to come crawling back? Newsflash: nobody wants to go to a crowded, outdated school anymore. Alternative options are where it's at 
. Letting private schools and online education take over is actually the way to innovate and improve the system.
it's crazy to think that we're losing almost 93k students since 2010! and it's not just about birth rates too - families are actively choosing alternative schooling options over public schools 
which is def worth exploring how CPS can adapt to this new reality 
like combining resources or creating more enrichment programs for their remaining students 
it's not ideal but at least they're looking into ways to make the most of it 
. Now it's like they're fighting for scraps 
. I don't blame 'em though, private schools are pretty solid and some families just want more options. But at the same time, it's sad that we're losing that community vibe in public schools. You know, when everyone knew each other's kids and stuff like that. The city's birth rates are still low, so I guess this is just the new normal 
. It'll be interesting to see how they adapt.
OMG I cant even believe how fast CPS is losing students!!! 
Like we all knew things were tough with the city's economy and stuff but 93k students down since 2010? Wow that's crazy! 
But on a more positive note, I think its awesome that low enrollment schools are looking into combining resources and enhancing their student experiences 
. That sounds like such a great way for them to adapt to the changing landscape! 
... that's some huge loss. i'm not sure what the solution is here, but low-income areas like the west and south side are getting hit hard 
. maybe the district could try partnering with these alternative schools or programs to give kids access to more resources?
.