The impact of immigration enforcement efforts is showing up in Hamilton County public schools through falling enrollment and heightened fear among students, according to educators and enrollment data.
“We have a responsibility to make sure every single kid feels safe coming into our schools,” Superintendent Justin Robertson said. “One of our commitments to student belonging is that, that our immigrant and Latino families specifically right now, although we can’t point to anything, we know that they don’t feel as safe, we know they don’t feel as welcome, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that we are creating environments that are safe, that are welcoming and that are supporting their kids.”
Between the 20th day of enrollment in 2024-25 and the equivalent day in 2025-26, the average Hamilton County public school’s enrollment dropped by just under eight students, according to a Chattanooga Times Free Press analysis, which did not include charter schools or schools that changed the grade range they serve between academic years. At the seven majority-Hispanic district schools, enrollment dropped by an average of 58 students.
That drop is largely driven by The Howard School, where enrollment decreased by 291 students between school years. Even excluding Howard, the other majority-Hispanic schools lost 19 students on average.