Gunnedah Public School saw a 39 per cent decrease in enrolments since 2004, while the town's high school dropped by 28 per cent, Department of Education figures reveal.

Read also:

Students from Gunnedah are increasingly taking advantage of public selective school options in Tamworth at Farrer Memorial High School and more recently Peel High, a Department of Education spokesman said.

"Traditionally, it has not been unusual for families in rural communities to place students in metropolitan and other boarding schools for their secondary education," he said.

"Other than students attending public boarding schools, the Department of Education has no data on parental choice or tends in which private schools families have chosen over time.

"However, anecdotally, local schooling continues to be families' preferred option."

G S Kidd Memorial School for kids with special learning needs saw the biggest growth at 56 per cent.

In 2004 the school had 23 students, that number has increased to 36 in the last 14 years.

Gunnedah South Public School also grew its numbers with an additional 99 children enrolling since 2004.

It is by far the largest public school in the town, and bucked a different trend in Tamworth, where smaller schools have seen significant growth in student numbers.

Enrolments at public schools are affected by parent choice, retention rates and demographics, and although half of Gunnedah schools saw a drop since 2004, all of them have grown in recent years.

Gunnedah High School has had year-on-year growth for the last three years, with the current enrolment of 434 just under the five-year peak of 445 in 2015.

Long term, student numbers are affected by changes in agriculture and industry practices, transport improvements,the availability of schools in an area, birth rates and family sizes.

Want more local news? Subscribe to the Namoi Valley Independent to find out more