District 65 Enrollment Heads Below 5,000

Evanston and Skokie families with children in District 65 should expect fewer students and possible changes in school capacity over the next five years.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Primary Education

District 65 Enrollment Heads Below 5,000

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School District 65 in Evanston and Skokie reported K-8 enrollment of 5,406 students for 2026-27, down 224 students or 4% from last year, and projects enrollment will fall below 5,000 by 2031-32.

Why it matters

For Evanston families, a shrinking enrollment base can shape how many classrooms and buildings the district keeps open, which affects school assignments and neighborhood schools. The district has missed its enrollment projections over the past five years, so the lower forecast is worth watching closely.

Kindergarten and first grade each have fewer than 600 students, while eighth grade has 701 students, the only grade above 700. Preschool and special school enrollment totals 332 students, down about 100 since 2022-23, and the average building is about two-thirds full.

The players

School District 65

The public elementary and middle school district serving Evanston and Skokie, responsible for K-8 education and building planning in the community.

The details

The enrollment figures come from a document on the school board agenda and exclude preschool and the Park and Rice special schools. The district expects about 2,600 fewer children over a 15-year period, and it notes that actual enrollment has come in below its predictions, so further declines are possible. The decline is part of a statewide and national trend of lower birth rates.

October 1, 2026: the 2026-27 enrollment count of 5,406 K-8 students was taken.
Monday after November 7, 2026: the school board agenda includes the enrollment report.
2031-32: projected K-8 enrollment falls below 5,000, to 4,931 students.

The Home Front

The decline follows a statewide and national drop in birth rates that is reducing school-age populations across the region. For Evanston households, it adds a factor to long-term decisions about where to buy and how neighborhoods will develop.

If you have a child entering kindergarten or first grade, check the district's current school assignments and enrollment information before making plans. Families weighing a move can ask the district directly about building capacity and projected class sizes in their attendance area.

The takeaway

Enrollment projections are useful but have run high before, so treat the 2031-32 forecast as a range rather than a firm number. Keep your school's enrollment numbers and the district's board agenda on file so you can track changes year to year.