Virginia & Maryland’s School Enrollments Are Down, But Declining Birth Rates Only Tell Part Of The Story

August 13, 2026 4:50 PM ET Experts seem to be missing an important piece of the puzzle when trying to explain the reasons behind public school enrollment rates declining in Maryland and Virginia — while public school enrollment rates fall, homeschooling rates are increasing. According to WTOP, public school enrollment rates have decreased in both states, and experts are citing the reasons as “declining birth rates, immigration and migration patterns, and housing costs.” While this is certainly the case by and large, another change appears to be affecting enrollment. Homeschooling rates have increased in both states, likely affecting the rate of enrollment in public schools. Notably, the University of Virginia (UVA) Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service released an enrollment projection f