I just received this bit of (fill in how you feel) news about San Francisco and the dwindling number of families in the city.
San Francisco Is Losing Families
According to the latest census figures, San Francisco has lost 5,278 children since the last census in 2000. Despite this, the city has 3,000 more children under five than it did 10 years ago but it also has lost more than 8,000 children older than five.
With a resident population of 805,235, 13.4 percent of the city’s population is younger than 18. In 1970, those younger than 18 made up 22 percent of San Francisco. In 1960, they made up 25 percent.
The San Francisco Unified School District has lost almost 7,000 children over the past decade, down in 2010 to 53,033. The district adopted a new student-assignment system last year that gives priority to children living near a school but whether it will stem the exodus of families remains to be seen.
I’m not sure how you all feel about this, but I personally find it slightly disturbing. How long before San Francisco is void of children? I have children (both under 9 years old) and we make sacrifices to stay in San Francisco. What does San Francisco have to do to reverse this trend?
If it’s anything that is going to drive us out, it’s going to be the weather, but that can’t be changed, so let’s focus on keeping families here. Shall we?