San Marino faces housing challenges amid declining birth rates and school capacity concerns

The San Marino Unified School District Board of Education held a special session on May 27, 2025, focusing on enrollment trends and housing challenges affecting local families. The meeting highlighted the district's current student capacity and the implications of demographic shifts on school resources.

During the session, officials noted that San Marino is experiencing the lowest birth rates since the Great Depression, which has contributed to a decline in school-age children in the area. Currently, the district has a capacity for 3,200 students but is only serving approximately 3,100. This discrepancy is particularly pronounced at the elementary level, where the introduction of transitional kindergarten has led to an increase in enrollment, pushing the schools to exceed their capacity.

Board members discussed the lack of affordable housing options in San Marino, which makes it difficult for young families to move into the community. Unlike neighboring areas such as La Cañada and South Pasadena, which offer more diverse housing options, San Marino primarily has single-family homes. This limitation, combined with a significant number of vacant homes, poses challenges for attracting new families.

The meeting also addressed the cyclical nature of enrollment trends, with a noted increase in student numbers since February 2022. Officials expressed hope that this upward trend would continue, although they acknowledged that future enrollment data would be necessary to confirm this trajectory.

As the session concluded, the board prepared to discuss the May revise of the state budget, which could have implications for funding and resources in the district. The discussions underscored the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing San Marino's educational landscape as it navigates demographic changes and housing issues.