NYC Schools Face Consolidation Calls Amid Alarming Enrollment Drop

New York City's public school system is grappling with a significant enrollment decline, prompting calls from City Comptroller Mark Levine for the Mamdani administration to consider merging under-enrolled schools. An analysis of Department of Education data reveals 219 schools across the five boroughs now have fewer than 200 students each.

"A decade ago, NYC had over a million students in the public schools. This year we have 885,000. Projected to decline by another 150k over next decade," Levine stated on X, formerly Twitter. He added that some of these small schools are so diminished they cannot field sports teams, calling the situation "not sustainable."

Levine's warning comes as Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels confront challenges including plummeting enrollment and high rates of chronic absenteeism. At PS 188 in Coney Island, 60% of students were chronically absent last year, missing at least 18 days of classes. The school, with approximately 230 students, also saw about 60% of its students fail standardized math and reading tests.

Citywide, an average of 33% of students are chronically absent. The Department of Education acknowledges the issue, with spokesperson Nicole Brownstein stating that the DOE is committed to collaborative conversations and decisions that preserve the unique traditions and cultures of school communities, even if buildings change.

Chancellor Samuels noted that approximately 30,000 students are currently enrolled in "small or under-enrolled" schools. He indicated that the DOE will focus on the smallest 25% of schools when considering closures or mergers, citing budget constraints and resource disparities that affect these smaller institutions. The department has pledged to engage in extensive community input and meetings with parents in impacted neighborhoods before any such actions are taken.