New York City Comptroller Mark Levine has released a report examining declining public school enrollment, demographic changes and students’ needs across the city. The report tracks enrollment trends from the 2013-14 through 2025-26 school years.
K-12 enrollment in public schools fell 19 percent, or nearly 187,000 students, during that period. Including 3K and pre-K students, total public school enrollment declined by 148,000 students.
In 2025-26, schools lost 21,793 students, the steepest post-pandemic decline. The School Construction Authority projects enrollment could fall by another 128,000 students by 2034-35.
The report outlines several unique events that may have contributed to decline: a pronounced drop during the pandemic, the arrival of a larger number of students seeking asylum and even a broader decline in number of children born in NYC each year.
“Declining school enrollment is not only a challenge for our education system — it raises fundamental questions about affordability, the ability of young families to build a future in New York, and the kind of city we want to be,” said City Comptroller Mark Levine.
In Brooklyn, enrollment patterns affect district planning, school resources and services for families. The report identifies Central Brooklyn as an area with concentrated charter elementary and middle school enrollment.
It also lists Brooklyn school districts 14 and 17 among the districts with the lowest shares of students attending public schools.
The report also highlights changing student needs. About 73 percent of students in New York City Public Schools were identified as living in poverty, while 14 percent were reported to be homeless or living in temporary housing.
The number of students with disabilities has increased, and English learners remain a significant share of enrollment. Black students accounted for 19 percent of public school enrollment in 2025-26, down from 26 percent in 2013-14.
The report says declining enrollment is not simply the result of families transferring children to charter or private schools or homeschooling. It points to a broader decline in the school-age population and shifts in immigration patterns.
The School Construction Authority projects total enrollment will decline by an additional 128,000 from school year 2025-26 to 2034-35.
