Declining Enrollment Leaves 150 Chicago School Buildings Half Empty, Spending Tens of Thousands for Each Student |

In a striking revelation, up to 150 school buildings in Chicago are reported to be operating at half capacity, a circumstance stemming from a significant decline in student enrollment across the city.

For decades, Chicago has been under Democratic governance, with a close alliance to teacher unions that has led to what can only be described as an egregious mismanagement of the educational system.

The repercussions of the pandemic, including prolonged school closures, have not helped the situation. Yet, the roots of this crisis run deeper.

FOX News reports:

Chicago schools face enrollment crisis with 150 buildings half-empty

A recent report indicates that the dwindling number of students in Chicago has resulted in around 150 schools being only half full.

The analysis, prepared by ChalkBeat and ProPublica, highlights that 47 schools are functioning with fewer than one-third of their intended capacity, leading to inflated costs and a reduction in course offerings.

This year, Chicago Public Schools has around 325,000 enrolled students, a stark drop of 70,000 from a decade prior, as per the report.

“District officials predict that in three years, enrollment could plummet to as low as 300,000 students, with a more optimistic scenario suggesting a rise to approximately 334,000. These estimates are partially based on the city’s sharply declining birth rates, which fell by over 43% from 2011 to 2021,” the authors state.

Despite these challenges, the city continues to allocate around $18,700 per student, with some schools spending “double or triple” that amount. For instance, Frederick Douglass Academy High School, which serves just 28 students, incurs a staggering cost of $93,000 per pupil.

This troubling scenario is fueling a growing movement among Americans advocating for school choice, including options like homeschooling.

Chicago is a case for national school choice:

– Spending up to $93,000 per student
– 150 schools are half-empty
– Fewer than 1-in-5 can do math at grade level
– Fewer than 1-in-3 students can read at grade level

It’s time to EMPOWER parents to find the education that best fits… pic.twitter.com/ZECYL31qVk

— Erika Donalds (@ErikaDonalds) June 18, 2025

Yes, at one public school in Chicago, it literally costs $93,000 per pupil per year.

The teachers’ union, which is widely perceived as corrupt, refuses to address the systemic issues, as do liberal politicians. https://t.co/Yenl8Rg2xW pic.twitter.com/fzk32x8aIy

— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) June 18, 2025

This alarming situation serves as a testament to the outcomes of prolonged one-party rule in Chicago. With schools half-empty yet spending exorbitant amounts per student, the results remain dismally inadequate.

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