LYNN — Lynn Public Schools has lost 633 students between April 2025 and April 2026, a decline Superintendent Dr. Molly Cohen said is likely linked to heightened federal immigration enforcement and growing fears among immigrant families.

This accounts for about 4% of the district’s 15,913 student population. The district, which has been tracking enrollment monthly, has seen the largest losses occur at the secondary level.

“We do see bigger deficits in enrollment in the secondary level. Our highest grade level that we lost is 10th grade,” Cohen stated at last Thursday’s City Council meeting. She also said at the meeting that between March 2025 and March 2026, the figure was slightly higher at 648.

Cohen said that while LPS “does not capture the immigration status of students,” it is reasonable to conclude that the decline in enrollment “is at least partly attributable to the impact of enhanced immigration enforcement. We have experienced students and families reporting feelings of anxiety and even fear, which is obviously concerning.”

Cohen also said, in a report published on May 13 by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, that “fear” and “instability” are contributing to enrollment decline and fiscal pressure in public schools in the state, specifically regarding English-language learners.

“We are seeing the financial consequences of that instability land squarely on the districts serving our most vulnerable students,” she said in the report.

Earlier this year, Gov. Maura Healey issued guidance for child care providers, health care centers, colleges and universities, places of worship, and schools on interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

The guidance followed an executive order prohibiting ICE from making civil arrests in nonpublic areas of state facilities and from using state property for immigration enforcement staging. The guidance also encourages organizations, administrators, and providers to train staff on how to “respond appropriately” when interacting with federal immigration officers and establish “clear escalation” procedures.

Within schools, the guidance emphasizes restricting access to nonpublic areas, including classrooms, offices, and dormitories, unless a valid judicial warrant or order is presented. It also encourages schools to protect confidential student and family information and document any interactions with immigration authorities.

“People in Massachusetts should be able to live their lives — go to school, drop their kids off at child care, see a doctor — without fear. That is fundamental,” Healey said. “We are setting clear expectations so providers know how to respond, how to protect their communities, and how to keep their doors open to everyone who needs care and support.”

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll added, “Providers across Massachusetts are showing up every day for children, families, and patients. This guidance gives them the tools to do that while keeping services running and protecting the people in their care.”

As a result, LPS is continuing to follow the Safe and Welcoming Schools Policy that was adopted by the School Committee in 2017, which outlines the procedures and security measures to keep LPS schools safe.

If federal immigration law enforcement officers are in direct view of any school, students will be kept inside the school and out of view of any law enforcement activities. The school principal will also contact Safety Officer John Mackin, the SRO, or call 911 to verify if officers are in view, as well as the deputy superintendent and the superintendent’s office for additional guidance. If necessary, they will then notify Mayor Jared Nicholson and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy.

“We have reinforced this with families many times so that they know our schools are safe and secure spaces, and they should not hesitate to send their children to school. Every absence is a missed opportunity for learning and growing,” Cohen said.