This brief explores 2020-21 student enrollment patterns at District, Alternative, Charter, and Cyber Charter schools in Philadelphia, including by school admission type and student demographics, as well as changes in those patterns over time.

Key findings include:

• Between 2016-17 and 2020-21, District enrollment declined by 8% while Charter enrollment increased by 6%.
• The biggest enrollment decrease from 2019-20 to 2020-21 was in kindergarten. However, student enrollment increased in grades 7-12 (with the exception of 9th grade).
• Charter enrollment increased about 1% from 2019-20 to 2020-21. All grade levels saw an increase in enrollment with the exception of kindergarten and 9th grade.
• The overall number of students attending Neighborhood, Citywide, and Special Admission high schools increased about 3% from 2019-20 to 2020-21.
• Even though there was an overall decrease in enrollment, the overall demographic makeup of the District student population did not change. However, students who did not enroll in the District for kindergarten tended to be Black/African American students and those with special needs.