Declining birth rates drive school enrollment drops in Argentina and Chicago

Declining birth rates and shifting demographics are causing significant drops in school enrollments in both Argentina and the United States.

In Argentina, birth rates have nearly halved in a decade. Projections suggest primary school enrollment could decrease by 27% by 2030, representing a loss of 1.2 million students. While overall numbers are falling, the demand for new schools persists in specific areas due to urban reorganization and the expansion of residential peripheries where young families are relocating.

In the United States, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) reported a drop of 11,500 students, bringing enrollment to 304,700—the lowest level in over two decades. Officials attribute this decline to low birth rates, families moving to suburbs, and changes in immigrant populations. The enrollment trend has become a central issue in the city's school board presidential race, with community groups advocating for a moratorium on school closures.