School Enrollment Shifts Five Years After the Pandemic

Authors: Abigail Francis, Joshua Goodman

Project Summary

When school doors closed in March 2020, many anticipated this disruption would have long-term effects on students. Nonetheless, a common assumption throughout this period was that students would eventually return to school. Five years post-pandemic, we are witnessing a more dramatic shift in the composition and enrollment of public schools than expected. This research documents the changes in public school enrollment in one state and highlights the demographic and grade-level shifts that may have broader implications for the health and vibrancy of American schools.

Key Findings

• Relative to pre-pandemic trends, Massachusetts local public school enrollment has decreased while private school and home school enrollment has increased.
• The declines in local public school enrollment are most notable in high income districts and middle grades.