Faced with dwindling populations of children, voters in two north central Kansas counties decided that four school districts should become two.

In Washington County, residents voted Tuesday to consolidate North Central Unified School District 221 and Washington Schools USD 222. The new district will be called Washington County Schools.

In neighboring Republic County, voters approved the consolidation of Hillcrest Rural Schools USD 455 and Republic County USD 427. The new district will be called the Republic County School District.

The four districts represent about 1,000 students in more than 900 square miles along the Kansas-Nebraska border.

The consolidations take effect July 1.