A year after Oakland Unified announced its first enrollment increase in about a decade, the numbers are heading down again.

The numbers

At the school board's Oct. 28 meeting, enrollment director Kilian Betlach shared preliminary figures from census day, the first Wednesday in October. The Oaklandside reported:

  • 257 fewer students than last year, and 60 below projections. A 60-student shortfall is worth roughly $1.7 million.
  • Kindergarten enrollment down 103 students
  • General education down 301 students, while special education students in self-contained programs rose by 238
  • Transitional kindergarten up 257 students

What changed

Between 2021 and 2026, OUSD put nearly $5 million into enrollment efforts: more enrollment staff, social media, billboards, bus and radio ads, mailers for focal schools, and personal follow-up from principals. The Oaklandside reported that in 2021-22 enrollment came in about 1,000 students below projections, and the next year, after the push, OUSD enrolled 900 more than projected.

That funding has run out. The Dig OUSD, a newsletter that tracks the board, reported that February budget cuts eliminated 2.4 positions from the enrollment team and 94% of its non-labor budget, about $1 million. Betlach told the board the targeted outreach is no longer happening.

Fewer newcomer students

OUSD enrolled 985 fewer newcomer students this year, the Oaklandside reported, a drop of more than a third, as federal immigration crackdowns took a toll. First-year newcomers fell from 177 in October 2022 to a projected 15 this fall.

Budget impact

State rules let declining districts use the highest of current-year attendance, prior-year attendance or a three-year average, so this year's drop may not hit this year's budget, district staff said. It could affect future years.