Antelope Valley Today

In the 2023-24 school year, seventh grade was the largest grade in Palmdale Elementary School District, with 2,234 students making up 10.5% of the student body, according to the California Department of Education. This represents a growth of 0.3% compared to the previous year.

The grade with the second highest number of students was kindergarten, with 2,226 students, or 10.5% of the student body.

The school that had the highest number of seventh grade students in Palmdale Elementary School District during the period was Desert Willow Fine Arts Science and Technology Magnet Academy, while Buena Vista Elementary School had the fewest.

Overall, Palmdale Elementary School District enrolled 21,205 students, ranking as the 58th highest enrolled district in California for the 2023-24 school year. It ranked 59th highest 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
Barrel Springs Elementary School	618
Buena Vista Elementary School	574
Cactus Medical Health and Technology Magnet Academy	845
Chaparral Prep Academy	580
Cimarron Elementary School	464
David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy	1,006
Desert Rose Elementary School	648
Desert Willow Fine Arts Science and Technology Magnet Academy	1,020
Dos Caminos Dual Immersion	902
Golden Poppy Elementary School	494
Innovations Academy of Palmdale	431
Joshua Hills Elementary School	559
Los Amigos - Dual Immersion	1,025
Manzanita Elementary School	624
Mesquite Elementary School	618
Oak Tree Community Day	51
Ocotillo Elementary School	611
Palm Tree Elementary School	447
Palmdale Academy Charter	751
Palmdale Discovery Center	216
Palmdale Learning Plaza	803
Quail Valley Elementary School	525
Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy	874
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy	786
Summerwind Elementary School	569
Tamarisk Elementary School	738
Tumbleweed Elementary School	624
Yellen Learning Center	55
Yucca Elementary School	477