Students keep heading inland but the flow may be slowing

For several years now, teachers in more expensive coastal counties, such as Los Angeles and Orange, have watched as students have left their schools to follow their parents in search of more affordable housing and jobs in fast-growing Riverside and San Bernardino counties. But the inward flow might be slowing a bit in part because some parents are having trouble selling their homes, according to the OC Register.

During the 2007-08 school year, public school enrollment in Orange County totaled 503,224 students, according to the California Department of Education. That drop of more than 700 students continues a years-long decline but was smaller than recent drops and better than many educators had expected. That left some officials to speculate that enrollment might be on the verge of bottoming out.

"Donald Trigg, Santa Ana's associate superintendent of business services, has said the recent housing slump could be one reason why fewer families are leaving local districts to purchase homes in once booming areas like the Inland Empire."

Enrollment in San Diego County, also hit hard by falling home prices, actually showed a slight increase in students. But kids continue to leave Los Angeles County public schools in large numbers, with enrollment declining by more than 43,000 students to about 1.63 million students.

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times