The overall rate of transient students has dropped to 4.7 students per 1000 last year, compared to the year before.

Transients from decile 1 schools dropped the most in the past year to 2.5 percent.

Finlayson Park School principal Shirley Maihi told Mike Hosking her school has had a large drop, but that doesn't tell the full story.

"We are at a much lower rate now but we are still getting students coming to us who have been to three or four other schools in their first 18 months of education."

LISTEN ABOVE AS SHIRLEY MAIHI SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING