In Central Falls, the state’s most heavily Hispanic school district, student enrollment numbers are down by more than 400.

School officials aren’t sure what is behind the decline or whether the numbers will change before schools open. But they say the state’s sagging economy and the foreclosure crisis are probably contributing factors. Immigrant advocates say the enrollment dip is also linked to the governor’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.

In the state’s largest school district — Providence — enrollment has fallen by 1,700 since school ended in June, although school officials say the dip is not unusual and they expect the number to bounce up, when students who have not registered show up for school Aug. 26. About 60 percent of Providence’s 25,000 students are Hispanic.

Currently, Central Falls enrollment stands at 3,050, down from its usual 3,500, said School Supt. Fran Gallo. Central Falls has the highest density of Hispanic students in the state, at 70 percent. Gallo said it is not unusual to lose about 200 students over the summer, as some move away, switch school systems, or fail to register for the new school year until the first day of classes.

“But I am surprised by this — I did not think the numbers would go down as significantly,” Gallo said. “But all you have to do is walk around the neighborhoods around here and see all the boarded up houses. And given the tough economy, my principals have told me many families are moving away, to the south or the west or where they have relatives.”

School officials point out that they will not have firm enrollment numbers until the school year is under way.

In Woonsocket, kindergarten registrations are down 50 percent, from 80 last year to about 40 so far this year, according to the school administration office. Roughly one-fourth of Woonsocket students are Hispanic.

In contrast, in Cranston, enrollment numbers are holding steady, according to Assistant Supt. Peter Nero, at 10,615 students so far. This time last year, enrollment was 10,657, Nero said. About 12 percent of Cranston students are Hispanic.

While immigrant advocates worry about the departures, opponents of illegal immigration are pleased and say the state will save money.

The enrollment decline came to light at a news conference yesterday to announce the resignation of 8 of the 12 members of the Governor’s Hispanic Advisory Commission. The resigning members said the executive order had created a climate of fear that was affecting all immigrants, legal and illegal.

Rhode Island is one of 11 states — and the only New England state — officially in a recession. Unemployment hit 7.7 percent last month, the second-highest rate in the nation, and more than 1,800 homes were foreclosed on during April, May and June.

Cities have been especially hard hit. Sixty-eight percent of those foreclosures are in Greater Providence, which includes Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence and Warwick.

Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Providence, said he sees empty houses when he walks through the West End of Providence.

“When I walk the neighborhood,” he said, “I see two or three foreclosed homes on every street.”

A similar pattern of shuttered homes can be seen in Providence’s South Side and Olneyville. Hundreds of immigrant families have left, driven by fear of deportation and difficulty getting jobs, said Juan Garcia, a community organizer at St. Teresa Church in Olneyville. Garcia said some have moved to South Carolina, North Carolina and western states. Others have moved across the border to Massachusetts, which has opted to integrate immigrants and ensure they receive social services under Democratic Governor Patrick.

Rhode Island has adopted a different approach.

Saying illegal immigrants were costing Rhode Island too much money and that the federal government had reneged on its responsibility to enforce immigration law, Republican Governor Carcieri signed an executive order in March to crack down on undocumented immigrants.

The order instructs state police and correctional officers to receive federal training and work more closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce some immigration laws. It also requires state agencies and contractors to screen workers using a federal E-Verify system.

“Many families have had to leave,” Garcia said. “Many of these families drive without licenses and when the state police started stopping people earlier this year and bringing them to court, people got scared. Also, the economic situation in the state is grave. The cost of food and gasoline and everything is going up. Many of these people earn just $6 an hour, so all of this has created a situation where they cannot maintain their lives here.”

State Rep. Richard W. Singleton, D-Cumberland, an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration, said he is pleased about the effect of the executive order.

“I don’t think the executive order was signed in order to force people to leave the state, although that could very well be a consequence of it,” Singleton said. “If so, I say that’s great. Congratulations to the governor, because we are gaining something here in Rhode Island if it’s forcing some people to leave.”

He said he was not concerned about the potential impact on the economy, as many illegal immigrants work as janitors, landscapers, roofers, house cleaners, dishwashers and in other low-paying jobs.

“Absolutely this will save the state money,” Singleton said. “And it might raise the wages for landscapers.”

––With reports from staff writers Linda Borg and Cynthia Needham

jjordan@projo.com