Each additional student enrolled in a public school generates upwards of $10,000 annually in operating budget, while fixed costs remain largely independent of enrollment.
The Mechanism
Public school funding in California follows a per-pupil model. When a student leaves the public system for private school, the funding follows them out — but the school's fixed costs (facilities, administration, base staffing) remain unchanged.
Impact on Districts
Private school attendance directly diverts this funding from public districts, creating a compounding effect where lost enrollment leads to lost resources, which can drive further enrollment decline.