From this brief: We examine changes in fall 2019 to fall 2020 enrollment in North Carolina schools. Our analyses consider changes in enrollment by school sector, the distribution of enrollment changes, and how enrollment is related to characteristics of districts, schools, and students. From our analyses there are five key takeaways:

(1) Traditional public schools saw sizable enrollment declines in fall 2020, while charter and home schools experienced increased growth;

(2) Enrollment losses were largest in kindergarten with smaller declines in other elementary and middle school grades;

(3) Enrollment decreases were spread broadly across the state, but some districts and schools experienced particularly large declines and may be more at risk for funding and operational concerns;

(4) Enrollment declines were larger among urban and less economically distressed districts and among schools with higher state report card grades and lower concentrations of economically disadvantaged and students of color; and

(5) Different student subgroups show different patterns of transitions, with white students and non-economically disadvantaged students more likely to exit public schools, while Hispanic students had fewer entries into public schools and Black and economically disadvantaged students had more transitions to virtual schools.

These findings should inform policymakers and educators as they address educational concerns created by the pandemic. In particular, policymakers should be aware of funding and operational challenges among schools with reduced enrollment and the potential for increased segregation and concentrations of poverty.