Figures generated by the Common Core of Data survey indicate public school enrollment in the United States decreased by about 818,000 in fall 1981, a 2 percent decline from fall 1980 and part of a continuous decline since 1972. The five states reporting the largest decreases in enrollment (New York, California, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio) accounted for approximately 45 percent of the total national decline. Nine states reported enrollment increases ranging from 0.6 percent (Idaho) to 5 percent (Alaska). A total of more than 40 million students were enrolled nationwide as of October 1, 1981, with over 27 million in prekindergarten to 8th grade and nearly 13 million in grades 9 to 12. The national decline was greater in secondary schools (3.3 percent) than in elementary schools (1.4 percent). Over half of this brief release is composed of tables, including student membership by level of instruction and by state or area for 1980 and 1981 and student membership by grade and by state or area in fall 1981. (MJL)