Comptroller report shows sharp decline in new york city public school enrollment over decade

The Office of New York City Comptroller Mark Levine released a comprehensive report titled tracking the K-12 student population in New York City. The findings provide policymakers, families, and the public with a detailed understanding of how the local student population is changing, where shifts are occurring, and how student needs are evolving across the five boroughs.

According to the report, public school K-12 enrollment fell by 19 percent between the 2013-14 and 2025-26 school years. This sustained decline represents a total decrease of 187,000 students across the citywide public education system over the decade.

During the 2025-26 school year, public schools experienced their largest post-pandemic enrollment drop. The system lost 21,793 students in a single year, marking a three percent year-to-year decline that outpaced previous post-pandemic years.

City Comptroller Mark Levine said declining school enrollment is not only a challenge for the local education system. He said it raises fundamental questions about affordability and the ability of young families to build a lasting future in New York.

The report shows that the overall drop cannot be explained away by students shifting to charter schools, private schools, or homeschooling options. Families appear to leave the city as their children grow older, with the steepest enrollment drop occurring between the fifth and sixth grades during the transition from elementary to middle school.

Every New York City public school district has experienced total student declines, though there is notable variation in the scale across different neighborhoods. As total enrollment falls, the public school system continues to serve a student population with substantial needs, including increasing numbers of students with disabilities and English language learners. Approximately 73 percent of students experienced poverty, while 14 percent were homeless or in temporary housing.

The School Construction Authority has projected that enrollment could decrease by another 128,000 students by the 2034-35 school year. Officials are using these population trends to direct resources and support to schools where students need them most.