Declining Enrollment, Shuttered Schools: Puerto Rico’s Education System in Numbers

Puerto Rico’s education system has undergone a traumatic upheaval since Hurricane Maria hit the island on Sept. 20, 2017.

One of the most important statistics is public school enrollment. Puerto Rico’s overall population has been declining for several years. However, many fear that the hurricane has accelerated this drop, and that the island’s long-term prospects could be permanently damaged. A shrinking school system likely won’t help.

There are tens of millions of dollars available to pay for school repairs, but the total amount needed hasn’t been tallied yet, and the figure could easily skyrocket. And many schools closed permanently over the summer, with the drop in student enrollment a big part of the picture.