When public schools across the Empire State open their doors for school year 2019-20, pupil enrollment will be at its lowest level in at least 30 years--continuing a long-term decline that has increasing relevance to Albany's perennial legislative battles over school funding and education policy. Including charter schools and pre-kindergarten programs, New York public school enrollment in 2018-19 was estimated at 2,578,135, down 30,338 pupils from 2017-18 and at its lowest level since the 1990-91 count of 2,540,944, according to the State Education Department. At this rate, enrollment in New York schools will soon dip to levels last seen in the late 1950s.