Another rural school will close its doors next month - sparking concern around a plunge in young people in smaller communities

Pukemiro primary school in Huntly struggled to get enough students to fill its classrooms... forcing the closure.

Waikato District Council Mayor Allan Sanson says its getting harder for small communities to justify a school.

He says a lot of small rural communities have got ageing populations where kids are just not coming through like they were when he was that age.