DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state’s largest school district is opting not to participate in a survey of student behavior. The biannual Iowa Youth Survey, given to sixth-, eighth- and 11-graders, identifies behavior trends and gathers data about risks confronted by Iowa’s youth.

Spokesman Phil Roeder for the Des Moines School District tells The Des Moines Register that school officials are conducting their own survey created by the Gallup company. Roeder says the district felt conducting both surveys would be redundant.

About 300 other Iowa districts are taking part in the survey. It will be administered this week through Oct. 31. In 2012, nearly 71,000 students took the survey, continuing a trend of reduced participation since 2005, when about 98,000 students completed it.