The County lost nearly 3,900 students this year alone and has shed 33,000 students over the past eight years.

SAN DIEGO — California’s Department of Education released its annual enrollment data Thursday, revealing that San Diego County’s public school enrollment has declined again. The state experienced its largest year-over-year enrollment loss since the COVID-19 pandemic, with California losing 74,961 students statewide.

San Diego County has experienced a consistent decline in public school enrollment over recent years. The County lost nearly 3,900 students this year alone and has shed 33,000 students over the past eight years.

Multiple factors drive the enrollment decline, but one stands out above the rest. Dr. Kristine Shipman, the Senior Director of Data and Impact at the San Diego County Office of Education, identified fewer children being born as the biggest driver of the enrollment loss.

“We just find that families are having less kids,” Shipman said.

The high cost of living in San Diego exacerbates this trend significantly. 

“San Diego is one of the most expensive places to live, so it’s harder for families to establish,” Shipman said. 

This affordability crisis has prompted some families to leave the region entirely. 

“We’re finding that some younger families are choosing to relocate out of the area [to] find affordable housing for their families with a yard that their kids can play in,” Shipman said.

Declining enrollment threatens school funding and programs. Public schools rely on attendance numbers to determine their budgets, meaning fewer students will necessitate difficult decisions about resource allocation. 

“They’re trying to figure out how they can scale back what programs are essential, does have an impact on staffing some of the supplementary programs,”  Shipman said.

Changing migration and immigration patterns further compound the enrollment challenge. 

“Decrease in the availability of farmland is going to have an impact on the number of our migrant students that are in San Diego County,” Shipman said.

The San Diego Unified School District, the county’s largest district, has been hit particularly hard. The district reported losing 1,309 students this year compared to last year. A district statement emphasized its commitment to families, stating, “Every day we are making the case to existing and prospective families about why San Diego Unified schools are the best choice for their child.”