Enrollment in Massachusetts K-12 public schools has dropped to its lowest level in three decades. The drop in students for the 2025-2026 school year reflects one of the largest enrollment declines since the Covid-19 pandemic, newly released data from the state shows.
While there are always ebbs and flows in total enrollment, this year’s downward shift is dramatic, particularly in districts that typically enroll a high percentage of English learners who are new to the country.
Total enrollment as of fall 2025 dropped by 15,442 students — a 1.6% total decrease from the start of the previous school year. There are 900,490 students enrolled in Massachusetts this year, the lowest figure since 1994, when the state enrolled just under 896,000 students…