This paper addresses the demographic and socioeconomic effects on schools of the "new baby boom," consisting of school-age children of the original "baby boomers." The effects of this second-generation demographic trend include a higher proportion of minority students (since the decline in marriage and birth rates among baby boomers reaching adulthood was limited to the white middle class), and a current rise in elementary enrollment accompanied by a continuing decline in secondary enrollment. The rising demand for elementary school teachers, coupled with the rise in more lucrative career options (especially for women), is leading to a teacher shortage. Yet faced with a declining interest in teaching as a career, many schools of education in the 1970's fought to keep their enrollments up by virtually abandoning entrance requirements. Steps to remedy this situation include raising standards and limiting teacher supply (to raise teachers' status and salaries) or, conversely, offering incentives to attract more highly qualified candidates to the profession. The effects of these demographic phenomena on San Mateo County (California) are next described in detail. The paper concludes that public schools can continue to grow only by diversifying to other age markets, such as adult education. (TE)