LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Enrollment in Michigan’s public schools has dropped for at least 19 consecutive years, according to data from the Senate Fiscal Agency.

Michigan’s public-school enrollment has dropped from 1.69 million in 2005-06 to 1.38 million in 2024-25, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency.

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The Senate Fiscal Agency’s online data goes back to 2005. But the state data shows a decline in student enrollment over the past six decades. There were 2.02 million public-school students in this state in 1977-78, according to the state.

Student enrollment is the lifeblood of a school district’s funding. Each school district in Michigan gets $9,608 per pupil in what is referred to as the state’s foundation allowance. Many federal grants are also paid on a per-pupil basis.

Detroit Public Schools and Flint Community Schools are two districts that have suffered some of the largest decreases in enrollment. Detroit’s enrollment has dropped from 141,147 in 2004-05 to 48,026 in 2024-25. Flint’s enrollment has dropped from 19,138 in 2004-05 to 2,876 in 2024-25.