CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Pilsen public elementary schools report a significant decline in student enrollment as the neighborhood deals with rising gentrification.
Enrollment at six of the 10 elementary schools in Pilsen fell by more than a third and three schools experienced drops greater than 50 percent, according to a new report by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Despite academic growth, elementary schools are losing hundreds of students a year as working-class families leave the neighborhood.
With the majority of Pilsen residents renting, gentrification has caused monthly rates to skyrocket.
The SunTimes reported that the average rental price for a two-bedroom Pilsen apartment is $1,600 a month and just over $2,000 a month for a three-bedroom.
With Chicago Public Schools funding largely relying on student enrollment, both teachers and educational programs have been cut, however the schools are still academically on track despite the losses.