In the 2023-24 school year, ninth grade was the largest grade in San Benito County Office of Education, with 28 students making up 51.9% of the student body, according to the California Department of Education. This represents a decline of 4% compared to the previous year.
The grade with the second highest number of students was 10th grade, with 10 students, or 18.5% of the student body.
The school that had the highest number of ninth grade students in San Benito County Office of Education during the period was San Benito County Opportunity, while San Benito County Juvenile Hall Court had the fewest.
Overall, San Benito County Office of Education enrolled 54 students, ranking as the 62nd lowest enrolled district in California for the 2023-24 school year. It ranked 44th lowest in the previous school year.
California’s public schools face a growing financial crisis driven by declining enrollment and an increase in chronic absenteeism, both impacting the state’s school funding model.
Enrollment, which peaked at 6.3 million students in the early 2000s, has steadily declined to under 6 million today, with projections indicating it could fall below 5.2 million by 2032. This trend is attributed to lower birth rates, slowed immigration, and families relocating out of state due to high housing costs. Rural and coastal districts have been particularly affected, facing tough decisions such as school closures and staffing reductions.
At the same time, chronic absenteeism has surged from 12% pre-pandemic to 25%, disproportionately impacting younger students and jeopardizing their long-term success.
| School | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Pinnacles Community | 15 |
| San Benito County Juvenile Hall Court | 5 |
| San Benito County Opportunity | 34 |
