CHICAGO — A new investigation reveals that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are operating around 150 under-enrolled schools, with some buildings serving just a few dozen students — costing taxpayers up to $93,000 per student.
Over the past decade, CPS has lost more than 70,000 students, dropping from roughly 395,000 to about 325,000 this year. According to ProPublica and Chalkbeat, 47 schools are now functioning at less than one-third capacity, significantly increasing operational costs while reducing educational offerings.
Low Enrollment Drives Soaring Per-Student Spending
While the city’s average spend per CPS student is $18,700, schools with extremely low enrollment are blowing past that. Frederick Douglass Academy, for example, serves just 28 students and costs taxpayers $93,000 per student. Similarly, DuSable High School costs approximately $50,000 per student, despite its dwindling enrollment numbers.
Citywide birth rates have dropped over 43% from 2011 to 2021, fueling a long-term decline in school-age population. Forecasts suggest enrollment could fall as low as 300,000 by 2027 — or 334,000 in a best-case scenario.
Empty Classrooms, Fewer Resources
Students in under-capacity schools often have fewer academic options, limited extracurriculars, and are more prone to chronic truancy, lower graduation rates, and reduced college enrollment. The report by ProPublica noted that many schools in this group are housed in aging buildings requiring millions in repairs — further inflating operating costs without delivering educational value.
These schools may also lack sports, clubs, or electives, leaving students underserved in critical areas of development.
Politics Block School Closures
Despite overwhelming evidence of inefficiency, efforts to close or consolidate schools have met strong resistance — largely due to a 2013 school closure moratorium influenced by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). Outgoing CPS CEO Pedro Martinez recently confirmed that the city has too many schools serving too few students, but noted that political backlash has blocked previous closure attempts.
The CTU maintains a different view. In the report, union vice president Jackson Potter argued that under Mayor Brandon Johnson, the city could still see a population rebound by branding itself as a progressive sanctuary supporting immigrants, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ care, and gender-affirming services — a shift meant to attract families and new enrollment.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Among the report’s most striking findings:
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47 schools operating below one-third capacity
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Average per-student cost: $18,700
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At Douglass and DuSable: $50,000 to $93,000 per student
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City enrollment down 70,000 students in a decade
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Many buildings in need of millions in structural repairs
The enrollment gap, aging infrastructure, and political gridlock are forming a dangerous financial storm — one that city leaders have yet to confront with a viable long-term solution.
Are you a CPS parent or teacher seeing the effects of low enrollment and limited resources? Share your experience with us at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
