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IZA Discussion Paper No. 17902
May 2025
Enrollment Declines and Permanent Closures in Public Schools

This study examines the prevalence of permanent school closures before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with enrollment declines. Utilizing data from the Common Core of Data between 2013-14 and 2023-24, the analysis reveals a downward trend in closure rates, with significant variation across school characteristics and states. Poisson regression results indicate a strong association between recent enrollment declines and the likelihood of permanent closures. The findings underscore the financial and operational pressures faced by schools with declining enrollments and highlight the need for tailored policy responses to address the unique challenges of different communities.

Communications
Mark Fallak
mark.fallak@liser.lu
+352 585-855-526
World of Labour
Olga Nottmeyer
olga.nottmeyer@liser.lu
+352 585-855-501
Network Coordination
Christina Gathmann
christina.gathmann@liser.lu

The IZA@LISER Network is a global community of scholars dedicated to excellence in labor economics and related fields, now coordinated at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) following its transition from Bonn.

About IZA@LISER Network
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