MARIETTA - Year-over-year enrollment is up by 498 students in Cobb schools, but down by 27 students in Marietta City Schools, according to data the districts recently submitted to the state.

The Full-Time Equivalent count is taken twice each year, in October and in March. The state allocates funds to the districts based on the numbers.

Cobb's FTE count taken last month shows 107,245 students enrolled district-wide, including charter schools. In October 2008, Cobb reported 106,747 students.

Superintendent Fred Sanderson said the economy is likely behind the slight increase.

"When the economy entered the current recession, some families chose to re-enroll their children in public schools," Sanderson said. "We hope they discover the value our schools offer, and that they decide to stay even after the economy picks back up."

Marietta has 7,811 full-time students, according to last month's count. In October 2008, the district had 7,838 students.

Dr. Emily Lembeck, superintendent of the city system, also pointed to the economy. Increasing foreclosures, stalled redevelopments and high apartment-vacancy rates all factored in, she said.

And although enrollment is down, Lembeck believes the system is healthy.

"I think the school system is far from dying. In many ways it's revitalizing," said Lembeck, who expects more students will enter the district as the economy improves.

In the late 1990s, Cobb's enrollment was growing by 2,000 to 3,000 students each year. A study done for the district in 2007, though, predicted enrollment would decline by 2015 because of a number of factors, including the building out of the county and an aging population.