(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Education reports school enrollment dropped slightly this year. The Department says the number of K-12 students dropped by around five-thousand or one percent from last year. The state says the drop reflects the declining birth rate nationwide. The report shows around nine percent of public school students open enrolled in another public school outside of their home district.

Enrollment at Iowa accredited nonpublic schools was up more than eight percent. The certified enrollment represents students enrolled in school on October 1st.