7.6% of Jackson Academy of Music and Math (JAMM)'s student body were enrolled in first grade in 2023-24 school year

Out of 684 students enrolled at Jackson Academy of Music and Math (JAMM), 7.6% were in first grade during the 2023-24 school year, according to the California Department of Education. The grades with the highest concentration of students were sixth grade and eighth grade.

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.

Grade	Number of Students	% of Total
6th Grade	106	15.5%
8th Grade	106	15.5%
7th Grade	99	14.5%
kindergarten	76	11.1%
5th Grade	65	9.5%
3rd Grade	64	9.4%
4th Grade	64	9.4%
1st Grade	52	7.6%
2nd Grade	52	7.6%