More Than 11,500 Students Left Chicago Public Schools This Year — And the Funding Collapse Is Just Beginning

5 articles, oldest first.

1. Sun Times

   Chicago Public Schools enrollment drops by more than 11,000, accelerating long-term downward trend ↗ (opens Sun Times)

   Published Sep 24, 2026

   Sun Times's feed description

   Enrollment in Chicago Public Schools is down again this year to just under 304,678 students, dropping 11,500 students since last school year, according to preliminary data released by CPS officials on Thursday.

2. Chalk Beat

   Chicago Public Schools enrollment drops by 11,500 students ↗ (opens Chalk Beat)

   Published Sep 24, 2026

   Chalk Beat's feed description

   Pre-K students at Johnson Elementary School in North Lawndale make trees using popsicle sticks and leaves as part of a STEAM lesson. Johnson's enrollment remained stable this fall, even as Chicago Public Schools overall lost more than 11,500 students.

3. Bloomberg

   Chicago Schools Shed 11,500 Students as Risk of Budget Cuts Grow ↗ (opens Bloomberg)

   Published Sep 24, 2026

   Bloomberg's feed description

   Chicago Public Schools’ student enrollment is down almost 4% since last year, threatening to further strain the district’s already stretched budget.

4. Illinois Policy

   Chicago Public Schools loses 11,500 students in largest decline since pandemic ↗ (opens Illinois Policy)

   Published Sep 24, 2026

   Illinois Policy's feed description

   Enrollment has dropped by 20% over the past 10 years.

5. Latin Times

   More Than 11,500 Students Left Chicago Public Schools This Year — And the Funding Collapse Is Just Beginning ↗ (opens Latin Times)

   Published Sep 25, 2026

   Latin Times's feed description

   Chicago Public Schools lost 11,500 students this year. Latino neighborhoods bear the brunt — and Houston's crisis shows exactly where this leads.