New Census Bureau figures show white students now account for 48.8% of total U.S. school enrollment, while Latino enrollment has grown sharply since 2000.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
White students now make up less than half of all students enrolled in American schools, according to new Census Bureau data showing a major demographic shift across pre-K, K-12 and higher education.
The latest federal school enrollment data show that, as of October 2024, white non-Hispanic, non-multiracial students accounted for 48.8% of total enrollment across public schools, private schools and homeschool settings, according to a report from Axios.
The change marks a notable decline from 2000, when there were 46.7 million white students enrolled in American schools. By 2024, that number had dropped to 36.6 million, according to Census Bureau figures.
Latino enrollment moved in the opposite direction during the same period. In 2000, U.S. schools enrolled 10.2 million Latino students. By 2024, that figure had increased to 18.4 million, making Latino students the second-largest group in the nation’s education system at 24.4% of total enrollment.
The demographic shift is most pronounced in the younger grades. White non-Hispanic children account for about 47% of students in nurseries and kindergartens and about 48% of students in elementary and high schools.
White students still make up a narrow majority in higher education, accounting for 51.1% of enrollment. However, that share is expected to continue declining as more demographically diverse K-12 classes move into colleges, universities and graduate programs.
The data reflect broad changes in the composition of the American student population over the past two decades. The report did not state how many students in the growing Latino population are illegal migrants.
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