U.S. student shortage, falling birth rates threaten school closures

Large U.S. cities are grappling with too many underpopulated schools, forcing school districts to make difficult decisions on closures.

Why it matters: Most states allocate school funding based on student populations. Losing students can result in cuts for classes, extracurriculars or sports as a result of lower demand. More school districts could close schools in response to the imbalance, the Wall Street Journal reported.