Considering that private/independent school population is much smaller, a 3% drop in a large population is not made up for in a 1.7% increase in a smaller one.

Considering that private/independent school population is much smaller, a 3% drop in a large population is not made up for in a 1.7% increase in a smaller one. Homeschooling is also a factor, but there have been kids that have simply disappeared from school: I've seen it first hand, and have contacts that tell me it's systemic throughout my state.