Yuba-Sutter Times

In the 2023-24 school year, 12th grade was the largest grade in Sutter County Office of Education, with 59 students making up 12.5% of the student body, according to the California Department of Education. This represents a decline of 0.7% compared to the previous year.

The grade with the second highest number of students was eighth grade, with 51 students, or 10.8% of the student body.

The school that had the highest number of 12th grade students in Sutter County Office of Education during the period was Sutter County Special Education, while Feather River Academy had the fewest.

Overall, Sutter County Office of Education enrolled 472 students, ranking as the 279th lowest enrolled district in California for the 2023-24 school year. It ranked 297th lowest in the previous school year.

California's public schools face a growing financial crisis driven by declining enrollment and an increase in chronic absenteeism, both impacting the state's school funding model.

Enrollment, which peaked at 6.3 million students in the early 2000s, has steadily declined to under 6 million today, with projections indicating it could fall below 5.2 million by 2032. This trend is attributed to lower birth rates, slowed immigration, and families relocating out of state due to high housing costs. Rural and coastal districts have been particularly affected, facing tough decisions such as school closures and staffing reductions.

At the same time, chronic absenteeism has surged from 12% pre-pandemic to 25%, disproportionately impacting younger students and jeopardizing their long-term success.

School	Total Enrollment
Feather River Academy	27
Pathways Charter Academy	25
Sutter County Special Education	313