Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media
July 2, 2025

The number of Black students in California’s public schools has dropped sharply over the last 10 years, as overall school enrollment across the state continues to fall. New data shows that enrollment has declined from 6.2 million students in 2014–15 to just 5.8 million in 2024–25.

According to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), this is the lowest total seen in California schools since the late 1990s.

The report shows that “in absolute terms, declining enrollment has meant falling numbers of students across most racial/ethnic subgroups.” While the number of Asian and multiracial students has grown, the number of Black and White students has gone down. The changes are most visible in large urban districts, where housing costs and migration out of state are likely playing a role.

At the same time, Latino students now make up the majority of the student population. “In 1998, shares of White and Latino students were similar, almost 40%, but by 2024–25, the share of Latino students had risen over 16 percentage points, while the share of white students fell 18 percentage points,” the report stated.

The share of students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged has increased, while the share of migrant and foster students has decreased. The number of English Learners has also dropped, partly due to a policy that exempts some transitional kindergarten students from testing.

PPIC researchers say these shifts are likely to continue as enrollment keeps falling. “The state’s education system will need to find ways to serve a changing student body,” the report concluded. Advocates say that means paying close attention to groups like Black students, whose numbers are shrinking but whose needs remain high.