CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- As more students are returning to in-person learning, a survey by the Illinois State Board of Education found more than 35,000 have left public schools.
Some declines were expected and are happening in other states as well, but the drop between projected and reported enrollment in Illinois represents almost two percent of public school students.
"In total, there was 35,822 K-12 students enrolled in Illinois public schools than what was projected for this school year," said Chief Research Officer Brenda Dixon.
A survey of Illinois public schools last fall found kindergarten saw the biggest drop between projected and reported enrollment at 10,000 students.
Chief Research Officer Brenda Dixon shared the unverified results with the state board in February.
They found about three out of four students who left were white and districts with the smallest number of low-income students saw the biggest drops.
She said "71.4 percent of the overall decrease in students was a little over 35,000 comes from white students."
Students left for private schools, home schooling, or to move to another district.
Because declines were larger at lower grades, there are concerns about academic performance in the future.
A council appointed by Governor Pritzker suggested districts offer tutoring, summer school, and counseling as ways to catch students up.
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