Declining Enrollment in Los Angeles Schools

Officials from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) have reported a significant drop in student attendance, attributed to fears surrounding deportation.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho highlighted that enrollment has dropped by 4% from the previous year, which translates to over 17,000 students considering the district serves around 429,000 students.

“These declines reflect the climate of fear and instability created by the ongoing immigration crackdown that disrupts family stability, housing, and movement,” Carvalho noted.

He mentioned other factors contributing to this downturn, adding that concerns about immigration issues are worsening existing challenges like declining birth rates, escalating housing costs, and broader economic pressures. “When families fear attention or can’t afford to stay in their communities, it’s likely they won’t enroll, re-enroll, or remain in public schools,” he stated.

Carvalho warned that if states don’t tackle these issues, there could be long-term repercussions affecting classrooms, staffing, programming, and the future of public education.

He reiterated that the district remains committed to supporting immigrant communities, emphasizing that there’s no distinction made between those here legally or undocumented students.

In a previous statement, Carvalho had expressed strong opposition to immigration enforcement near schools and indicated that the district would resist federal agents attempting to enter schools without proper warrants.

He remarked, “I think it’s an outrageous situation. But again, we’ve seen some outrageous actions taken by this administration recently. We’re prepared for anything.”