MS one of eight states to see double digit losses in K-12 enrollment

[Podgy]

Conservative and religious women have more kids than progressives. As someone pointed out, this is going to put even greater strains on social security and Medicare. We have a large welfare state for the elderly and when I retire I want mine too. It also costs more to educate sub-100 IQ students.

Where Are the Babies? In Red States, Fertility Rates Are Higher

Is the blue-state family model working outside the halls of academia and the pages of The Washington Post—in other words, in the real world? There are mounting signs the answer is “no.”

ifstudies.org

 

[johnson86-1]

Homeschool is certainly a factor - I'm not sure how much yet.

The issue in Mississippi is the people staying here aren't having babies.

One contributing factor is that we have a huge portion of the state without decent public schools but without the high paying jobs to make private school feasible but we also won't help people pay for alternatives outside a few narrow circumstances. Make kids unnecessarily expensive and you will get fewer of them.

 

[johnson86-1]

paying separate administrators, support staff, etc. Not to mention upkeep on different facilities.

The community college situation was just another poor decision that we have to bear the legacy costs of. Community colleges could have at least been in the local population centers. But instead we have Hinds in Raymond, MGCC in Perkiston, Mississippi Delta in Moorhead, etc. So instead of having major campuses in the closest population center, we have them in the middle of nowhere 20 to 30 minutes away and so add satellite campuses where people actually live.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Conservative and religious women have more kids than progressives. As someone pointed out, this is going to put even greater strains on social security and Medicare. We have a large welfare state for the elderly and when I retire I want mine too. It also costs more to educate sub-100 IQ students.

Where Are the Babies? In Red States, Fertility Rates Are Higher

Is the blue-state family model working outside the halls of academia and the pages of The Washington Post—in other words, in the real world? There are mounting signs the answer is “no.”

ifstudies.org

Not to be morbid, but in the next 20 years, we're going to see a huge portion of the population gone, a portion of which is also a big strain on social security and medicare. So that will even out and maybe even be decreased.

I do agree on the students and public schools will ultimately get worse and worse. Education is leaning more and more towards private schools and homeschools. COVID exposed what a lot of the future will look like, but for whatever reason, the older generation (both boomers and gen-x) are trying like hell to hold onto the past, or different types of control.

The gen-x'ers are all obsessed with AI for some reason. They love talking about eliminating jobs and 17ing people over. And it's not nearly as revolutionary as they are trying to say it is.

 

[Podgy]

It's not just healthcare and daycare costs. It's also more expensive to avoid living among the bottom quintile and ensuring your kids are in schools without disruptive, violent kids with parents, well a parent, unlikely to model good behavior for their kids.

 

[Xenomorph]

You think it’s bad here.. take a dive on the population problem in China.

It almost seems while the world barrels ahead toward AI, automation and robotics we don’t need as many people to get stuff done.

Maw and Paw no longer need 7 kids to milk the cows and bring in the crops.

Another sweet side effect is kids are being separated from the family unit at younger and younger ages. A young man used to be practically middle age before being handed the reins of the family after dad died. Now he’s kicked out at (best case) 18 and told to figure it out on his own while learning from Instagram and TikTok.

 

[Yeti]

And hence the reason we (MSU) need to be busting butt to get out of state students enrolled..we need to look at FL. Kids can’t get in FL or FL state could come here. So many of the other schools there are commuter schools that don’t appeal ..TX too Hard to get it TX or AM. Tech is the middle of nowhere…the rest are private or commuter …but here we are

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Another sweet side effect is kids are being separated from the family unit at younger and younger ages. A young man used to be practically middle age before being handed the reins of the family after dad died. Now he’s kicked out at (best case) 18 and told to figure it out on his own while learning from Instagram and TikTok.

To be fair, there's a segment of the population that has figured a lot of this BS out. And they are exiting that matrix.

What you speak of is some faux tough guy nonsense perpetrated by again, the boomers. All these rigid 'systems' came out of that generation and beyond. And it gets worse every year. I swear a big portion of even the people who ARE having kids don't really want them. Oh, they want the social media pics and all that but they are rushing as fast as possible to get them out of the house and on their own.

 

[HRMSU]

You think it’s bad here.. take a dive on the population problem in China.

It almost seems while the world barrels ahead toward AI, automation and robotics we don’t need as many people to get stuff done.

Maw and Paw no longer need 7 kids to milk the cows and bring in the crops.

Another sweet side effect is kids are being separated from the family unit at younger and younger ages. A young man used to be practically middle age before being handed the reins of the family after dad died. Now he’s kicked out at (best case) 18 and told to figure it out on his own while learning from Instagram and TikTok.

Yep.....Russia too. It takes a 2.1 fertility rate to sustain existing population. Virtually no developed country now is hitting that rate. Legal immigration is our best hope long term but that's being destroyed by people's feels. Only AI or robots can save China due to their lack of immigration and Russia may be too far gone plus losing younger generation to war.

We are a far cry away from the population alarmist who kept feeding us garbage about how we were going to over populate Mother Earth and destroy her.....I guess they've moved on to another Mother Earth destroying prophecy?

eta: MS is usually pretty close to top 10 in fertility rate. Not volume but rate. So, relatively speaking MS is still cranking them out.....albeit teen pregnancy rates are way too high

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Many on here have touched on it. This isn’t just a Mississippi problem, this is a global issue.

Falling fertility, debt and AI: is the US headed toward a population crisis?

Americans having fewer kids plus an ageing population could be a recipe for disaster that further erodes social stability

www.theguardian.com

 

[RocketDawg]

I'm on a roll with education topics lately, so let me add one more.

This is the expected increase (or decrease) in K-12 enrollment by 2031. We are going to see some mass layoffs of K-12 administrators and teachers next decade. And our legislature has to start taking a hard look at consolidating some community colleges and possibly closing some 4-year schools. Enrollment is going to be an issue from kindergarten through college.

Does that include private schools?

California and New York are understandable, but a state like Texas is not since their population is growing so rapidly.

 

[GloryDawg]

Sounds like the World Governments need to outlaw condoms, abortions and mandate men take Viagra, Blue Chew before each meal.***

 

[HailStout]

I have 4 daughters. I will never retire

 

[RocketDawg]

Interesting for sure since mid-decade estimates suggests Mississippi’s population has increased in the past 5 years. Hmmmm.

Where'd you get your numbers from? 2025 estimate from the Census Bureau is 2,954,160 and the 2020 population from the actual 2020 Census is 2,961,278. That's a very slight decrease, not an increase. It's such a small number as to not make any difference anyway,

 

[leeinator]

My oldest daughter has Charleston on her mind.

Better get her checkbook out.

 

[leeinator]

The coast is experiencing tremendous population and developmental growth. Harrison county has in excess of a billion dollars in current construction, with another billion in the pipeline along the coastal counties.

Don't want to be anywhere near the coast. Property insurance is sky-high and our coast seems to be a magnet for Category-6 hurricanes.

 

[Napoleon378]

Many on here have touched on it. This isn’t just a Mississippi problem, this is a global issue.

Falling fertility, debt and AI: is the US headed toward a population crisis?

Americans having fewer kids plus an ageing population could be a recipe for disaster that further erodes social stability

www.theguardian.com

Yep, it's pretty interesting to learn about.

Europe's native population is collapsing as well. I don't think its going to be as bad as some claim like the native Europeans would be minorities in their own country, but you will absolutely see a major demographic shift in the next 2-3 generations over there.

Europe was just absolutely ravished during WW1 and WW2 seeing untold thousands of young men die. I don't know if they will every fully recover. there were whole generations of young men snuffed out and bloodlines ended. so many small villages across france, UK, germany, russia that were effectively wiped out.

 

[CoastTrash]

very depressing thread. kids are expensive, time-consuming, and generally piss me off...but there are moments when they are life's greatest joy...lots of parallels to MSU sports

 

[johnson86-1]

very depressing thread. kids are expensive, time-consuming, and generally piss me off...but there are moments when they are life's greatest joy...lots of parallels to MSU sports

Yup. A lot of people have been done a real disservice by people always focusing on the negatives of kids. Women especially. That messaging combined with total ignorance about fertility has left a lot of women having to deal with major regret.

Then throw on the fact that we tax the **** out of parents to pay for idle time of people that are generally richer than them just because they're old, and we're also probably going to tax the **** out of their kids to pay for the idle time of people that didn't bear the costs of raising children. Really unbelievable that we tax most working people ~15% of of their wages every year for decades and us haven't managed to provide anything other than a welfare program that isn't even stable.

 

[mstateglfr]

Really unbelievable that we tax most working people ~15% of of their wages every year for decades and us haven't managed to provide anything other than a welfare program that isn't even stable.

In addition to Social Security benefits that significantly reduce elderly poverty, that 15% funds...
- major healthcare programs that cover tens of millions of children, adults, and elderly. Basically 40% of the country is covered.
- housing assistance to reduce homelessness.
- military and defense to protect Americans and provide global stability.
- food assistance to improve nutrition in children and struggling adults.
- road and bridge building and repairs to progress the economy.
- food safety initiatives and inspection which has helped to drastically increased life expectancy.
- medical research which benefits not just Americans, but people around the world.
- school meals across the country.
- specialized teaching for kids with various disabilities.
- early educational opportunities to jump start learning in disadvantaged families.
- VA healthcare which provides mental health services and medical treatment for America's Veterans.
...and more.


Seems like you have a pretty jacked up view of things.

 

[HailStout]

https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/21/business/condom-karex-prices-iran-war

 

[BTCMoonBoy]

Does this mean we’re also breeding out gays and trans

 

[johnson86-1]

In addition to Social Security benefits that significantly reduce elderly poverty, that 15% funds...
- major healthcare programs that cover tens of millions of children, adults, and elderly. Basically 40% of the country is covered.
- housing assistance to reduce homelessness.
- military and defense to protect Americans and provide global stability.
- food assistance to improve nutrition in children and struggling adults.
- road and bridge building and repairs to progress the economy.
- food safety initiatives and inspection which has helped to drastically increased life expectancy.
- medical research which benefits not just Americans, but people around the world.
- school meals across the country.
- specialized teaching for kids with various disabilities.
- early educational opportunities to jump start learning in disadvantaged families.
- VA healthcare which provides mental health services and medical treatment for America's Veterans.
...and more.


Seems like you have a pretty jacked up view of things.

That 15% does not go to any of those things you referenced (except for a portion of the fist item listed). At one time when SSDI and medicare taxes exceeded costs, it de facto did help fund those things, but SSDI and medicare taxes have not been enough to cover expenditures for at least five years now (that is when SSDI and medicare both started drawing down on the "trust fund". Medicare had already started before then).

So it would be you that has a jacked up view of things.

 

[mstateglfr]

That 15% does not go to any of those things you referenced (except for a portion of the fist item listed). At one time when SSDI and medicare taxes exceeded costs, it de facto did help fund those things, but SSDI and medicare taxes have not been enough to cover expenditures for at least five years now (that is when SSDI and medicare both started drawing down on the "trust fund". Medicare had already started before then).

So it would be you that has a jacked up view of things.

15% is the average Tht Americans pay in federal income tax.
So if that isn't the 15% you were referring to, what were you referring to?

Maybe this is an instance where 15% doesn't mean 15%...

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

Well, to be fair several blue States have enough fraud that all social programs would be solvent if the fraud didn’t exist!

 

[johnson86-1]

15% is the average Tht Americans pay in federal income tax.
So if that isn't the 15% you were referring to, what were you referring to?

Maybe this is an instance where 15% doesn't mean 15%...

12.4% SSDI tax. 2.9% Medicare. Really something like 14.7% when you add the employer side to gross wages, less whatever is actually borne by the employer (generally estimated to approach 0%, but I think they probably bear some of the incidence).

If that was all the tax paid, that'd probably be fine. But to pay that and then pay income taxes, plus bear some portion of the incidence of corporate taxes, tariffs, etc., but politicians still find a way to not just not have a solvent SSDI/Medicare, but also borrow trillions of dollars is pretty obscene.

 

[mstateglfr]

12.4% SSDI tax. 2.9% Medicare. Really something like 14.7% when you add the employer side to gross wages, less whatever is actually borne by the employer (generally estimated to approach 0%, but I think they probably bear some of the incidence).

If that was all the tax paid, that'd probably be fine. But to pay that and then pay income taxes, plus bear some portion of the incidence of corporate taxes, tariffs, etc., but politicians still find a way to not just not have a solvent SSDI/Medicare, but also borrow trillions of dollars is pretty obscene.

Oh, I guess my initial post isn't clear.
I was saying that in addition to SS benefits, that 15%(income tax average rate) paid for the things listed.
Maybe one thing in that list isn't correct?...but it's largely accurate.

Ah well.

 

[dog12]

My wife and I have only one child, our 19-year old daughter who is currently in her second year at Virginia Tech. I have no idea how much money she has cost us over her lifetime (or, how much she will cost us in the future), but I do know this: she's worth every penny.

 

[Podgy]

My wife and I have only one child, our 19-year old daughter who is currently in her second year at Virginia Tech. I have no idea how much money she has cost us over her lifetime (or, how much she will cost us in the future), but I do know this: she's worth every penny.

Cost me about $150,000 to put kids through private school. Worth it.

 

[Podgy]

It's the gals. Fewer of them want kids and not many want more than 2. "47% of Gen Z women would prefer to be 'happily married with kids and a normal job' over being a 'trophy wife' with no job, being 'highly successful' even if it means staying single, and a life with 'lots of travel' and a partner but no kids." https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-ex...a?st=EFTRpa&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

 

[Boosh]

Well in my neighborhood on the coast all my neighbors are over 60 , moved here from another state within the last 4 years ... I left MSU and moved to. Texas for a better job and to raise a family ...then moved back where my buck goes a lot further....

We did same in Florida and are considering moving back for the same reason.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

This is being repeated across many families and all across the state. Including my family.

I also hear consistently, “It’s too expensive to have a kid.”

I also left MS but well before kids. Work remotely now, and we got to choose where we wanted to settle and went with NC.

We’ve found the kid part to not be expensive yet, and we actually spend a little less from less travel and eating out, but we haven’t gotten into school, hobbies, etc much yet. We were lucky to find a great daycare for $300 per month for three days per week

 

[OG Goat Holder]

I also left MS but well before kids. Work remotely now, and we got to choose where we wanted to settle and went with NC.

We’ve found the kid part to not be expensive yet, and we actually spend a little less from less travel and eating out, but we haven’t gotten into school, hobbies, etc much yet. We were lucky to find a great daycare for $300 per month for three days per week

Was wondering where you ended up. I knew you were looking at east TN, north GA, west NC area (AKA the greatest place in the eastern US).

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Was wondering where you ended up. I knew you were looking at east TN, north GA, west NC area (AKA the greatest place in the eastern US).

Yep, settled in the Piedmont Triad. Good distance to several family members, safe, low cost of living, driving range of some fun stuff. Miss the inland northwest but good spot for our family. Kept the house out west for now and renting it in case we decide to head back at some point

 

[Mayor of Little London]

Utah is the only state in the country that is experiencing fertility rates above replacement levels. Them Mormons don't believe in contraceptives.

The catholic population is also dwindling in our state…..particularly outside of the coast.

 

[paindonthurt]

I'm on a roll with education topics lately, so let me add one more.

This is the expected increase (or decrease) in K-12 enrollment by 2031. We are going to see some mass layoffs of K-12 administrators and teachers next decade. And our legislature has to start taking a hard look at consolidating some community colleges and possibly closing some 4-year schools. Enrollment is going to be an issue from kindergarten through college.

We should absolutely consolidate community colleges.

When the bill was proposed recently a lot of people lost their minds b/c of emotions. But i graduated at southwest, or co lin, or hinds, blah blah blah.

Call it community colleges of mississippi with southwest campus, hinds campus, co lin campus.

Nothing changes other than you can consolidate admin and streamline expenses.

 

[paindonthurt]

My mid-30s son says the MS "acts" like it doesn't want young people to stay/live there. Just put roots down in NC.

This isn't true. I'm sure mississippi would beg people to stay if it would matter.

Many people want to move away to cool cities or areas.

Mississippi needs better economic opportunities. Its that simple but its not easy to achieve.

 

[paindonthurt]

Why? If people are enrolled in both, what’s the issue?

if they are fully utilized there isn't an issue in having both campuses. Are they fully utilized?

But having a hinds president and a holmes president and cahoma president and a co lin president and a south west presdient and 10 other presidents and all the associated admin is wasteful.

 

[paindonthurt]

Oof not good from a national perspective. Tough look for the future of social security benefits

Maybe we shouldn't depend on "social security" when it has never been very secure.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

The community college situation was just another poor decision that we have to bear the legacy costs of. Community colleges could have at least been in the local population centers. But instead we have Hinds in Raymond, MGCC in Perkiston, Mississippi Delta in Moorhead, etc. So instead of having major campuses in the closest population center, we have them in the middle of nowhere 20 to 30 minutes away and so add satellite campuses where people actually live.

As you likely know, many of the Jucos being centered in smaller towns is not what you would call a bug.

Instead it’s a feature. Most of Mississippi’s Jucos started off as agricultural boarding schools in smaller towns and attracted students from smaller towns and in the country.

Having campuses in larger cities didn’t occur until much later in the existence of Mississippi Jucos.

The historical background of the state’s community colleges is completely different than the Jucos in most of the other states in the United States.