Public schools across New York state opened this week, and they are seeing their lowest enrollment numbers in at least 30 years.
According to a report from the Empire Center released Wednesday, public school enrollment statewide for the 2018-2019 school year has decreased to levels not seen since the early 1990s. The last school year saw a drop alone of 30,338 pupils from the previous school year.
As children head back to school this week, the Empire Center finds that enrollment in New York state schools is at its lowest point since the early 1990s.
In central New York, the school districts with the sharpest decreases (between 25 percent and 50 percent) include:
- Fabius-Pompey
- Tully
- Port Byron
- Harpursville
The districts of Syracuse, Auburn and Whitney Point have seen increases in their enrollment.
Decrease in upstate population was blamed for this past spring’s closure of Forestport Elementary School, in Oneida County.
© 2019 Spectrum News
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