Hollister welcomed most students in San Benito County in 2023-24 school year

Hollister had the highest enrollment among San Benito County school districts, welcoming 6,306 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the California Department of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year, 51.2% of them were boys, and 48.8% were girls.

Data also showed that the majority of students were Hispanic or Latino, making up 81.5% of Hollister’s total enrollment.

Among the 12 districts in San Benito County, San Benito High School District ranked second in enrollment numbers with 3,537 students, while Aromas – San Juan Unified School District welcomed 959 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Hollister roughly covers schools within San Benito County and has a main office in Hollister.

In the previous school year, San Benito High School District had the highest number of students among San Benito County districts.

After peaking at 6.3 million in the early 2000s, public school enrollment in California has marked its seventh consecutive decline in the 2023-24 school year, with projections indicating it could fall to approximately 5.2 million by the 2033-34 school year. 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.

Although chronic absenteeism in California decreased in 2023, it remains double the pre-pandemic rate. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, chronic absenteeism in the state public schools reached 25% in 2023, up from 12% in 2019.