SFUSD, like many school districts in California, is experiencing trends of declining student enrollment and teacher shortages. To address these challenges and manage our resources more effectively, SFUSD uses a district-wide lens to determine the number of students at each school.
We determine the number of students at each school based on the current number of students at the school and historical enrollment trends for incoming students. We then allocate resources for teachers and school staff based on the number of students at each school and our labor agreements.
Throughout this process we seek to ensure that we have full classrooms with a qualified teacher at ALL of our schools. We are committed to providing a positive teaching and learning experience and to supporting students in meeting their academic goals. SFUSD is closely monitoring student enrollment results and may adjust school capacities to meet their needs.
This set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) explains our process and rationale for determining how many enrollment slots will be available at each school.
What is capacity setting?
Capacity setting is a process in which SFUSD determines how many spaces will be available for students at each of our schools in the next school year. We use this information to assign students through our school assignment process. This is the fourth year that SFUSD has used this district-wide centralized capacity setting process, which has been successful at making capacities and actual enrollment more aligned. In the 2024-25 school year, after a few years of setting capacities centrally rather than school-by-school, elementary classrooms increased are 94% full, after being only 82% full in the 2021-22 school year.
Why did SFUSD begin setting capacities for all schools centrally?
Full classrooms mean we are using our resources more efficiently. SFUSD, like many school districts in California, is experiencing a teacher shortage and declining enrollment. While schools may feel the impacts differently, we want to be sure that all of our schools have the resources they need to operate, including a quality teacher in each classroom. This improves student experience or strengthens our ability to support students in meeting their academic goals.
How does SFUSD determine capacities at schools?
SFUSD is working to make sure that the total number of spaces available in each grade matches the total number of students who will attend. This helps us ensure that all classrooms are staffed by a highly qualified educator. When determining how many spaces are available at each school, we try to match the number of classrooms to actual enrollment. Our goal is to limit the negative impacts of declining enrollment on the district as a whole, particularly for under-resourced schools in our most historically underserved communities.
How are capacities changing at schools next year?
This year’s capacity-setting process is similar to previous years, although some schools will have K-1 combination classes for the first time. Overall in elementary schools, we are reducing by 20-25 classrooms -- moving from about 94% full to about 95% full - which will make it easier to staff the classroom positions needed to serve all students. In middle schools and high schools, the overall number of seats will be reduced across schools so classrooms are about 95% full. If we have two classrooms where we could have one classroom, we increase our classroom vacancy rates and increase our reliance on long term substitutes or agency teachers.
How are decisions made about which capacities to change?
Enrollment capacities are set for the 2025-26 school year based on each school’s current enrollment and historical student enrollment trends. The Enrollment Center works with the Budget team to identify potential changes that would bring SFUSD closer to its budget-balancing goals, and through discussion with LEAD, Special Education, the Multilingual Pathways Department, and Labor, develops formal recommendations. Those discussions work toward specific rules that can be applied consistently throughout the district (e.g. close classrooms that are empty), rather than making individual decisions about specific schools. The Superintendent’s Cabinet decides on the final rules used to make capacity changes.
How did SFUSD determine which schools would have combination Kindergarten classrooms?
Some kindergarten classrooms that have fewer than 15 students currently enrolled and don’t have more than 15 TK students automatically promoted to that class will become K-1 combination classes in the 2025-26 school year. These classrooms are not full enough for the district to maintain. At impacted schools, the Kindergarten capacities in 2025-26 will be reduced by half a class, and incoming Kindergarten students will be in a K-1 combination class, but all students currently enrolled at those schools will still stay there for 1st grade.
The Enrollment Center will track overall Kindergarten applications, and in the case of additional Kindergarten applications, will add back classrooms. We will add classrooms first at these schools whose reduced classrooms over the last two years were most full.
Why can’t schools choose their own capacities?
In the past, when schools set their own capacities, the number of classrooms at each school and enrollment didn’t match, meaning that many teachers were teaching partly-empty classrooms. This is something we want to avoid with the challenging teacher shortage that we’re facing.
How can I participate in a conversation with my school community about our capacities for next year?
Once school’s administrators receive their 2025-26 school year budget projections, they plan discussions with the School Site Council and the rest of the school community, to discuss the school’s priorities and resources. You can also plan to attend the district wide School Planning Summit on March 8 to help develop your school’s priorities and plans for next year. Please check with your school about specific meeting times.
Is SFUSD closing any schools next year?
No. There are no school closures planned for the 2025-26 school year.
This page was last updated on March 4, 2025