MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Homeschooling and other “alternative instruction” options appear to be growing in South Dakota, according to new enrollment data from the South Dakota Department of Education.

State figures show alternative instruction increased from 11,489 students last year to 12,433 this year — an increase of 944 students, or nearly 950. Public school enrollment dipped to 135,577 statewide, down from 137,313 the previous year, according to the same reporting on the Department of Education data.

Separate reporting also noted state-accredited private school enrollment declined slightly this year.

Parents who choose homeschooling and alternative instruction have cited flexibility — including the ability to travel and tailor learning to a family’s lifestyle — and the option to set curricula that fit their child’s needs.

The Department of Education provides enrollment data by district and school type on its public dashboards.