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Five years after the pandemic, 101 North Carolina public school districts still have fewer students than before. Falling enrollment appears here to stay, but school choice isn’t the only reason why.

A decade ago, about 85%of North Carolina students attended their local school district. Last school year, that percentage fell to fewer than 77 percent as more students move to charter schools, private schools and home schools.

The gym at Lakewood Elementary in Durham was buzzing earlier this week with families coming to pick up math workbooks, hotspots and laptops on the…