Alabama public schools lose 5,800 students; largest drop in 40 years, say state officials

Enrollment in Alabama’s K-12 schools dropped by 5,800 students in the 2025-26 school year, according to numbers released Monday the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). 
The department says the decline is the biggest enrollment drop in 40 years. The K-12 population dropped from 720,181 in 2024-25 to 714,358 in 2025-26, a 0.8% decrease. 
School officials told members of the Alabama State Board of Education at their meeting earlier this month that the numbers would show a decline. Alabama State Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey said at the meeting that students using the CHOOSE Act, a voucher-like program, and students being enrolled but not going to school is where the decline is most likely coming from.
“We have essentially 2,100 kids that were enrolled last year that just didn’t show up. They didn’t transfer to private school, they didn’t go to home school, they didn’t go to school in another state. They just disappeared,” Mackey told board members.