A new study shows the national teen birth rate is higher in rural areas than bigger cities.

According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy” teen birth rates are about a third higher, per capita, in less populated places.

Less populated areas, for this study, means a county of less than 50,000.

This goes against the stereotype that teen moms are more common in more urban areas.

Jeanie Armstrong with Bosier Parish Schools says she's seen an increase in teen moms attending the Bossier Learning Center in recent years.

She attributes the rising numbers to more schedule choices.

“Our schedule does allow a little bit more flexibility for those parents because they can chose between morning classes and afternoon classes,” she said.

When researchers compare states, Louisiana typically rates somewhere in the middle when it comes to the number of teen moms.

In general, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports national teen birth rates are on the decline.