NAIS Research: Metro Area Report Series

By Colin Liau, NAIS Research Intern
Series edited by Margaret Anne Rowe, NAIS Senior Research Analyst

Executive Summary

NAIS Metro Area Report SeriesThe NAIS Metro Area Report Series examines key demographic, economic, and education trends across five major U.S. metropolitan areas: New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, and Seattle. The reports explore the unique factors that shape these cities, offering insights into how population changes, housing dynamics, and education policies intersect to create challenges and opportunities for independent schools and the families they serve. Each report highlights distinct regional trends:

New York faces dual pressures of population decline and the arrival of large migrant populations, with the report exploring how these shifts drive growth in alternative education options such as charter schools and homeschooling.

San Francisco has faced population loss exacerbated by the pandemic, while perceptions of public education and new policies such as transitional kindergarten may influence parents’ decisions about schooling.

The Atlanta metro area has experienced rapid growth as a beneficiary of domestic migration, highlighting how suburban expansion and rising housing costs are reshaping education needs and policy responses.

Chicago faces ongoing population decline while also dealing with challenges and opportunities presented by an influx of migrant families and evolving school choice policies.

In Seattle, economic vibrancy is juxtaposed with a high-cost housing market, declining public school enrollment, and growing interest in nonpublic and homeschooling models.

Each report offers relevant data and suggests action steps as schools across the country manage the interplay of regional changes and broader national trends.

Downloadable Content

NOTE: This report was updated on April 15, 2025, with additional data for the San Francisco metro area.

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