Utah enrollment drop explained: See where Salt Lake County kids are disappearing

Salt Lake County schools drove nearly half of Utah’s statewide enrollment loss.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kindergarten teacher Kristie Koyle preps her room at Glacier Hills Elementary in Sandy on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. This fall marked the sharpest nosedive for Utah public school enrollment in over two decades, and Salt Lake County schools drove nearly half of that loss.

This fall marked the sharpest nosedive for Utah public school enrollment in over two decades.

Statewide, enrollment dropped by 11,478 students for the 2025-26 school year, or 1.7%, according to data released last month by the Utah State Board of Education.

That’s nearly triple last year’s then-historic downturn.

School districts in densely populated Salt Lake County saw some of the steepest declines, the data indicates.

Combined, the county’s five districts — Salt Lake City, Canyons, Jordan, Granite and Murray — account for just under half of Utah’s total public school enrollment loss, with 5,645 fewer students this school year.

Among them, Salt Lake City School District was hit the hardest, with a 4.78% dip, or 886 fewer kids.

Here’s a breakdown of enrollment changes by district, including which schools saw significant losses.