A common refrain heard by locals opposed to new housing developments is that area schools can’t absorb the increase in students they’ll bring. As the nation approaches an “enrollment cliff,” the data tells a different story.
A new Shelterforce article reveals that concerns about school overcrowding - a common argument against affordable housing development - contradict actual enrollment data showing widespread declines across U.S. school districts.
In many cases, proposed affordable housing projects faced opposition due to school capacity concerns, including Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where voters rejected a major affordable housing development partially due to school overcrowding fears. However, nationwide data shows K-12 enrollment is projected to drop by 8% between 2019 and 2030, with many districts already experiencing significant declines.
In California's Coachella Valley, where an ambitious 10,000-unit affordable housing initiative is underway, local school districts report continued enrollment decreases rather than overcrowding. One district has lost over 2,000 students since 2018, while another operates at just 75% capacity.
- The enrollment decline stems from multiple factors, including:
- Falling birth rates since the 2008 recession
- Broad demographic shifts
- COVID-19 impacts on public school enrollment
School administrators note that declining enrollment threatens school funding and stability, with many districts actively seeking more students. As Adam Bosch of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress states in the article, "We should be on our knees praying for a hailstorm of children to fall from the sky."
FULL STORY: Fact Check: New Housing Doesn’t Lead to Overcrowded Schools
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