California schools see sharp decline in new immigrant student enrollment

California is experiencing a significant decline in the enrollment of new immigrant students, often referred to as “newcomers.” This trend follows a decrease in border crossings starting in early 2025.

The impact is particularly evident in large urban districts. In the Oakland Unified School District, annual arrivals of new immigrant students averaged over 1,300 between 2017 and 2024. However, that number fell to 498 in 2025, and as of October 2026, only 212 new students had enrolled for the school year.

This decline has forced school districts to restructure. Oakland Unified has reduced its newcomer programs at middle and high schools from 17 locations last year to just six this year. These programs typically provide specialized academic and English language support. The reduction in enrollment also affects overall state education funding, as budgets are tied to student numbers. Nicole Knight, executive director of English language learner and multilingual achievement at Oakland Unified, noted that the district is “suffering from declining enrollment” and that the decrease in newcomers makes the enrollment challenges more visible.