Virginia and Maryland public schools see enrollment drops as homeschooling surges
Public school enrollment in Virginia and Maryland is falling while homeschooling numbers rise, driven by lower birth rates and policy controversies.
Virginia and Maryland are experiencing a measurable reduction in public-school enrollment, with the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center forecasting a 1.2% dip in 2025 and a 3% decline by 2030. Concurrently, homeschooling enrollments have risen sharply: Virginia added 8,342 students between 2022-23 and 2025-26, while Maryland’s homeschool population grew by 1,084 over the same period after a pandemic-era surge. Analysts attribute the trend to falling birth rates, housing affordability and migration patterns, yet the surge in home education also aligns with heightened controversy over transgender policies and recent investigations into school district practices.
Former Governor Glenn Youngkin’s endorsement of school choice and the passage of HB2598, which strengthens homeschool privacy, have further encouraged families to opt out of public schools. In Maryland, Title IX investigations into gender-related policies and reports of administrative lapses have added to parental concerns, prompting districts like Montgomery County Public Schools to reassess staffing and facility use.
Why it matters
Shifts in enrollment affect school funding, staffing and the broader debate over public education policy.
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