About 833,000 fewer students enrolled in public schools in fall 2021 than had been predicted, with the most surprising drops occurring in middle school, according to a report released by WICHE, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. A consecutive decline in U.S. birth rates, the impact of COVID-19, and ongoing educational inequities make it difficult to determine the primary driving force behind changes in public school populations. Falling enrollment could be a result of students shifting to homeschooling and private schools. Ramifications of this can impact college enrollment trends starting in 2025.
