Large school systems including Los Angeles Unified School District are beginning the 2026-27 school year considering closures and consolidations as enrollment challenges persist.
In a recent video shared with LAUSD community members, Superintendent Andrés Chait discussed the district’s enrollment trends, noting that the number of LAUSD students has dropped from more than 700,000 in 2002-03 to a current projection of fewer than 400,000 students.
In a separate presentation to LAUSD board members on Sept. 15, the district reported that 373,538 students were enrolled so far this school year. That enrollment figure is nearly 1% lower than the district anticipated in its adopted budget. A 1% enrollment decrease would equate to a revenue loss of about $60 million, the district said…