This week we ask: Did you read Jesse Greenspan’s story on declining school enrollment in Santa Cruz County?
Declining enrollment trends
Pajaro Valley Unified School District enrollment fell 16% from 2016 to 2023, according to state data. Students attend Watsonville High School. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
Mirroring state and national trends, Santa Cruz County public school enrollment dropped 6% from 2013 to 2023. A further 22% enrollment drop in the county is projected by 2033, according to the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.
The declines can decrease class sizes, but they can also spell trouble for school funding based on average daily attendance. Most Santa Cruz County school districts’ enrollment dropped from 2016 to 2023, according to state data.
School districts with the greatest percentage decreases include:
- Bonny Doon Union Elementary: -40.5%
- Soquel Union Elementary: -20.9%
- Scotts Valley Unified: -15.9%
- Pajaro Valley Unified: -15.7%
- San Lorenzo Valley Unified: -13.0%
Tap here to find enrollment trends by school district.
About 100 teacher and staff layoffs could be delayed for the coming school year in Pajaro Valley Unified School District, its leaders said this week, because a decision may not be made by a March 15 deadline to notify employees.
The school district may continue to spend down its reserves and delay a decision on potential cuts until next school year. A budget reduction proposal was voted down at a Feb. 12 school board meeting.
Pajaro Valley Unified Superintendent Heather Contreras said Feb. 20 that she did not expect cuts to be made in time for the March 15 deadline to notify employees of layoffs for the 2025-2026 school year. “We basically just continue forward and move on to the next year. And the next year, we would still need to be reconsidering reductions,” Contreras said
What questions do you have about Santa Cruz County school enrollment and funding?
