SACRAMENTO – (INT) - Enrollment fell in California’s public TK–12 schools in 2024–25 for the eighth consecutive year.

Roughly 5.8 million students are enrolled statewide, about 420,000 fewer than in 2014–15. This is despite the recent expansion of Transitional Kindergarten (TK); with TK excluded, the decline over the past decade is about 100,000 larger.

This year’s decline was relatively small—only about 31,500 students, or 0.5% of total enrollment—especially compared to declines of over 100,000 in each of the first two years of the pandemic. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals notable differences across grade levels and districts.

Enrollment in TK and kindergarten was nearly 25,000 lower than expected. In particular, the state projected a large enrollment increase (over 43,000) in TK as the program has gradually expanded to all four-year-olds. But the actual increase was only 26,000, likely due to falling take-up rates as TK has expanded.

Meanwhile, enrollment in later grades exceeded projections. Despite declining in grades 1 to 12, enrollment was nearly 27,000 students higher than expected.

Higher-than-expected enrollment in later grades could reflect greater numbers of students choosing and/or remaining in public schools, fewer families opting to move out of state, and/or increased inflow of students from other states.

The data was compiled by California Department of Education and the California Department of Finance.

Story Date: June 18, 2025