Contra Costa County saw 3% drop in enrollments in 2020-2021 — 5,385 fewer students

After steady growth in students for more than a decade, Contra Costa County saw a county-wide enrollment drop in the 2020-21 school year, according to a the County Office of Education’s 2020-21 annual report released Tuesday.

Between 2007-08 and 2019-20, enrollment in the county’s non-charter schools and the non-charter schools of its 18 school districts grew from 166,772 to 178,406. Enrollment declined no more than 400 students from year to year during that time.

But in the 2020-21 school year, enrollment dropped 5,385 students to 173,021 — more than a 3% decline.

Contra Costa County’s student decline is only slightly more than that of the state; last year, California lost 160,000 students, or 2.6% of its enrollment. Demographers are predicting a decade-long enrollment decline in California, and fiscal experts are encouraging districts to plan for what could be a substantial loss of revenue. The California Department of Finance is projecting an 11.4% decline in statewide enrollment  from 2019-20 figures by 2031.