Source: Sophia Chang and Jessica Gould, New York Public Radio
January 27, 2021
NYC public school enrollment this school year has dropped 4%, which is about 43,000 students from the system. Notably, early education has had the most drastic decrease: trends saw a 9% decrease in kindergarten, an 8% decrease in 3K, and a 13% decrease in Pre-K. While universal Pre-K is universal in the city, school is only mandatory starting the first grade. This creates a weaker incentive for families to enroll in early education programs, as families may be trying to limit travel and social distance.
This also has implications on school funding, as enrollment is a large factor in determining state aid.