US News
US school closures rise as enrollment declines and budgets tighten
ABC News reports 1,156 schools closed last year, the most since the pandemic, as enrollment declines strain budgets.
The short version
- Big Local News at Stanford University counts 1,156 school closures last year, the most since the pandemic.[ABC News]
- Public school enrollment fell by more than 1.4 million students, about 3%, between fall 2019 and 2024.[ABC News]
- Bellwether and WestEd estimate declining enrollment could cut state school revenue by $11.5 billion annually by 2030-2031.[ABC News]
- The Vallejo City Unified School District has closed five campuses since 2025 to address a $36 million deficit.[ABC News]
Key facts
- A total of 1,156 schools closed during the last academic year, the highest number since the pandemic, according to an analysis of federal data by Big Local News at Stanford University.[ABC News]
- Public school enrollment nationwide fell by more than 1.4 million students, roughly 3%, between fall 2019 and 2024, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data.[ABC News]
- Bellwether and WestEd, two research groups, estimated declining enrollment could cause schools to lose $11.5 billion in state revenue annually by 2030-2031.[ABC News]
- The Vallejo City Unified School District has closed five campuses since 2025 to help plug a $36 million deficit.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- The $11.5 billion revenue loss is an estimate of a possible future outcome by Bellwether and WestEd, not a realized loss.[ABC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- School closures are accelerating in US, but more financial pain lies aheadABC News - US News
- Falling birth rates and funding cuts forced 1,156 US schools to closeAssociated Press
- Takeaways from AP’s report on school closures in the USAssociated Press