In the 2023-24 school year, 12th grade was the largest grade in Liberty Union High School District, with 2,143 students making up 26.1% of the student body, according to the California Department of Education. This represents a growth of 0.8% compared to the previous year.
The grade with the second highest number of students was 10th grade, with 2,050 students, or 25% of the student body.
The school that had the highest number of 12th grade students in Liberty Union High School District during the period was Liberty High School, while Independence High School had the fewest.
Overall, Liberty Union High School District enrolled 8,209 students, ranking as the 199th highest enrolled district in California for the 2023-24 school year. It ranked 200th 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 |
|---|---|
| Freedom High School | 2,478 |
| Heritage High School | 2,641 |
| Independence High School | 169 |
| La Paloma High (Continuation) | 148 |
| Liberty High School | 2,773 |