How many students are still missing from American schools? Here’s what the data says

Significant Decrease in Missing Students: Post-pandemic, around 50,000 students in the U.S. are still not enrolled in any form of schooling, a substantial decrease from over 230,000 in fall 2021.

Diverse Reasons for Disengagement: Students left school for various reasons, including homelessness, diminished interest or motivation, mental health issues, the need to work, or assume adult responsibilities.

Recovery Indicators: Many students have either returned to some form of schooling or aged out of the system, suggesting a gradual recovery of the education system.

Decline in Public School Enrollment: Public school enrollment has significantly declined, with over 1 million fewer students since fall 2019.

Rise in Alternative Schooling Options: There has been a notable increase in private school enrollment (nearly 8%) and homeschooling (more than 25%) from fall 2019 to fall 2022, indicating a shift in preference towards alternative education methods.