![The number of students at schools across Koreatown in Los Angeles is sharply declining. Recruitment banners hang on the exterior walls of an elementary school. [Sangjin Kim, The Korea Daily]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1208-schools.jpg)
Student enrollment in Los Angeles public schools is falling sharply, and Koreatown campuses are among the hardest hit. The decline reflects fewer school-aged children due to falling birth rates.
However, educators say stricter immigration enforcement is also contributing to the downturn. As Koreatown school enrollment continues to drop, officials warn the trend may affect districtwide budgets and operations.
Enrollment down across Koreatown elementary schools
According to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) data, Hobart Boulevard Elementary School has 420 students this year. That figure marks a decline of more than 20 percent from 524 students in 2021. Enrollment at Cahuenga Elementary School, which offers a Korean dual-language program, fell to 355 students from 385 during the same period.
The drop is even sharper at Charles H. Kim Elementary School, where this year’s enrollment is 483 students, down from 555 in 2021 — a decrease of more than 27 percent.
Other Koreatown-area schools show the same pattern. Compared with five years ago, enrollment has fallen significantly at
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Wilton Place Elementary School (402 → 297)
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Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School (214 → 170)
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Wilshire Park Elementary School (388 → 329)
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Mariposa-Nabi Primary Center (122 → 85)
Most of these schools have seen declines of 20 to 40 percent.
The trend extends beyond elementary campuses. John Burroughs Middle School, which has a large Korean American student population, now has 1,302 students. That number is down from 1,581 in 2021. Enrollment at Fairfax High School dropped to 1,495 this year, down nearly 20 percent from 1,846 in 2021.
Educators cite migration, low birth rates, and enforcement fears
Jennifer Kim, an LAUSD teacher, said Los Angeles is seeing fewer immigrant families and more households relocating to other states. “Because of declining birth rates and shrinking immigrant populations, enrollment continues to fall,” she said. She added that recent crackdowns on undocumented immigrants have led to heightened fear among families, resulting in more absences.
District officials warn that long-term declines could reduce state and federal funding. LAUSD currently enrolls 369,830 students. That number has dropped steadily from 419,443 in 2021 to 397,583 in 2022, 389,420 in 2023, and 381,116 in 2024.
Lower enrollment reduces state funding tied to attendance. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said this year’s decline is closely tied to federal immigration policies. “More students are leaving than expected,” he said. “This could lead to an annual loss of roughly $140 million.”
The decline is not limited to Los Angeles. According to the California Department of Education, statewide public school enrollment stands at 5,628,651 students. That number represents a drop of more than 5 percent from 5,933,692 students in 2021.
BY YOONSEO SONG [song.yoonseo@koreadaily.com]
