Student homelessness rises in California even as overall enrollment falls

Nearly 300,000 California K-12 students experienced homelessness in the 2024-25 school year, a number recorded by UCLA researchers that is both a peak high and a 10% increase from previous periods. Students experiencing housing instability are found to be more likely to miss school frequently and score significantly lower on standardized math and reading tests compared to their housed peers. The research notes that Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native students faced particularly high rates of homelessness.