Fresno High loses 462 students in decade as district weighs closures, consolidation

Fresno High School enrollment dropped by 462 students over the last 10 years — roughly one-fifth of its student body — the second-highest decline among comprehensive high schools in Fresno Unified School District. The district lost nearly 4,000 students in the same period and projects losing another 4,000 over the next three years.

District data shows 1,343 students transferred out of Fresno High since the 2016-17 school year. Nearly one in four landed at Bullard High in northwest Fresno — 325 students, or 24% of transfers.

At Fresno High, 12.5% of students tested proficient in math and 37% in English literacy on 2025 state testing. The 137-year-old school is the city’s oldest, but district boundaries place it landlocked between Edison, Roosevelt, McLane, and Bullard regions, plus Central Unified to the west.

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Principal Amy Smith told Fresnoland that boundary changes in the early 2010s moved Wawona Middle School — a feeder school — into the Bullard region. Fort Miller is now Fresno High’s only true feeder; Cooper Academy and Hamilton K-8 are magnet schools requiring transfer requests.

Declining birthrates, rising housing costs, and the district’s transfer portal contribute to what leaders call “transiency” — students living in the Fresno High neighborhood but attending elsewhere. Simon Biasell, lead pastor at Big Red Church and a nearly two-decade resident of the Fresno High neighborhood, said he couldn’t convince his daughter to attend despite the family’s ties to the area.

“That’s just the dilemma that I feel like so many parents have, that to send your kids to a Fresno Unified School means that you are willing to compromise on their education,” Biasell said.

In the same span Fresno Unified lost nearly 4,000 students, Clovis Unified gained nearly 400 students in the 2025-26 school year alone. Homebuilders continue developing around Clovis Unified’s newer facilities. Fresno High’s historic neighborhood lacks space for new single-family subdivisions that first-time buyers or young families can afford, according to Paul Idsvoog, the district’s chief of operations.

Board trustee Andy Levine, who oversees the Fresno High region, said the district wants to make investments in the school but acknowledged no serious discussions have taken place with the City of Fresno, despite his belief that partnerships could help. Relations between City Hall and the district remain strained following Mayor Jerry Dyer’s February text messages to board members pushing them not to oppose the Southeast Development Area plan, which projected closure of around 11 schools.

Idsvoog said the district is considering consolidating programs and possibly expanding middle schools to include sixth grade. Campus consolidation is a last resort but remains on the table. Alvin Makori, a USC researcher in urban education policy, said school closures typically don’t balance budgets or bring students back.

California ties school funding directly to enrollment and attendance. Jose Sandoval, a Fresno High teacher, said declining enrollment means declining funding, forcing the district to reshuffle staff. Teachers transfer to other sites, leaving behind the students they serve. Support staff losses limit schools’ capacity to meet students’ emotional needs.

Fresno High is the only district high school offering International Baccalaureate programs, including three IB career-related programs allowing students to earn college credits in construction, design, and media. Sandoval said smaller class sizes from declining enrollment give teachers more time with individual students.

Levine said state budget increases for community schools could allow up to 80 schools in the district to become community schools, up from the current 29. High schools in Fresno Unified have not historically been community schools, but that could change. Biasell highlighted the community schools model — offering tutoring, food, clothing, and wellness support for students and families — as a way to build relationships between schools and neighborhoods.

The Breakdown

• Fresno High lost 462 students (roughly 20% of enrollment) over 10 years; districtwide, Fresno Unified lost nearly 4,000 students in that span and projects losing another 4,000 over the next three years.
• 1,343 students transferred out of Fresno High since 2016-17; 325 (24%) enrolled at Bullard High.
• District boundary changes in the early 2010s moved Wawona Middle School from the Fresno High region to Bullard’s region.
• 12.5% of Fresno High students tested proficient in math, 37% in English literacy on 2025 state tests.
• The district is considering program consolidation and possibly expanding middle schools to include sixth grade; campus consolidation is a last-resort option but remains on the table.
• State funding increases could allow up to 80 Fresno Unified schools to become community schools, up from 29 currently; high schools have not historically been community schools.

What This Means for You

District boundary and transfer policies affect which schools families in the Fresno High region can choose and whether families continue opting out of their neighborhood school. Declining enrollment reduces funding tied to attendance, which forces the district to reshuffle staff districtwide — teachers transfer to other sites and support staff positions are cut. Board trustee Andy Levine, who represents the Fresno High region, acknowledged no serious discussions have taken place with the City of Fresno despite the district’s stated interest in partnerships. Relations between City Hall and the district remain strained following the Southeast Development Area vote.

What You Can Do

Andy Levine represents the Fresno High region on the board of trustees. Information about board meetings and trustees is available on the district’s website.

What to Watch

The district is considering program consolidation and campus closures as a last resort — Idsvoog said it’s “not off the table.” Fresno Unified projects losing another 4,000 students over the next three years, but Clovis Unified gained nearly 400 students in the 2025-26 school year alone — a pattern Makori at USC says follows new housing developments. The district’s stated desire to partner with the City of Fresno has produced no serious discussions yet, per Levine, and relations remain strained over the Southeast Development Area vote. Makori said both sides will need to get in the same room. The state budget increase for community schools could fund up to 80 campuses districtwide, including high schools for the first time.