Parents Opt Out of Public Schools in Dropping Numbers
The Shift
More and more, parents are opting America’s children out of public school. The share of children ages 5 to 17 enrolled in public schools fell by almost 4 percentage points from 2012 to 2022, an NBC News analysis of Census Bureau data found, even as the overall population grew.
State-by-State Analysis
NBC News’ analysis found:
- 87.0% of children were enrolled in public school in 2022, compared to 90.7% in 2012.
- In Kentucky, the share of school-age children in public schools decreased by almost 8 percentage points.
- In South Carolina, the share of children enrolled in public schools decreased by 7.4 percentage points.
- In Alaska, enrollment decreased by nearly 7 percentage points.
Private School Enrollment on the Rise
During the same period, the share of 5 to 17 year-olds enrolled in private schools increased by 2 percentage points, the Census Bureau data showed. Charter schools saw a similar increase, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Causes of the Shift
Educators and researchers say the swing has been caused in part by laws that have targeted public schools while propping up alternatives.
School Choice and Privatization
"[The rise in charter schools] is a thread of the larger campaign of privatization," said Abbie Cohen, a Ph.D. candidate in UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies. "Those two things are happening at the same time, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence."
State Policies and Funding
Policies that make private, charter, and homeschooling options more available to families — dubbed "school choice" by advocates — have expanded rapidly since 2022. Such policies grant families public funds for alternative schooling in the form of vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, refundable tax credits, and more. In 2023, at least 146 school choice bills were introduced across 43 states, according to FutureEd, an education-focused think tank at Georgetown University.
Florida and Kentucky
Nineteen school choice laws were enacted last year in 17 states, including South Carolina and Florida, which have seen some of the most dramatic declines of students enrolled in public schools. Kentucky has seen the most students leave public schools, but it is one of 18 states without a school choice program, and the state doesn’t fund charters.
Consequences
At the same time that states are pushing school choice programs, public schools — already dealing with declining enrollment — have faced budget cuts, teacher shortages, and laws and fights over what is taught in the classroom. More than 20 states have considered bills since 2022 that would give parents more control over the curriculum in public schools.
Conclusion
The shift away from public schools has significant consequences for students, particularly those who have been most historically marginalized in society. As districts experience a wave of financial struggles and closures, it is unclear whether public schools will bounce back from recent enrollment declines.
FAQs
Q: What is driving the decline in public school enrollment?
A: Laws that target public schools while propping up alternatives, such as charter schools and homeschooling, are contributing to the decline.
Q: What is school choice, and how does it impact public schools?
A: School choice refers to policies that make private, charter, and homeschooling options more available to families, often by granting public funds for alternative schooling. This can lead to a decline in public school enrollment and funding.
Q: How does the decline in public school enrollment affect students?
A: The decline in public school enrollment can have significant consequences for students, particularly those who have been most historically marginalized in society. As districts experience financial struggles and closures, it is unclear whether public schools will bounce back from recent enrollment declines.
