At least five Northern primary schools - Avoca, Bracknell, Meander, Mole Creek and Ringarooma - fail to meet a critical minimum enrolment mark highlighted in a report on school viability this week.

The schools are waiting to see how Education Minister Nick McKim handles the school viability reference group report, which was released on Tuesday, but all five fell below the enrolment criteria of 100 pupils seen as a ``starting point'' for rural primary schools.

Bracknell Primary School association chairwoman Angela Cresswell said she would wait to see how the government responded to the report but was angered by comments from viability group chairman Royce Fairbrother that some schools had not tried to fix problems affecting viability earlier.

``To say we're blaming others is wrong. At Bracknell we have been aware we could have had a greater number of students and we've sought assistance in the past about school boundaries and bus routes and we've been stonewalled each time,'' Ms Cresswell said.

She was pleased the report highlighted boundaries and transport as critical factors and it was important any formal assessment process listen to the concerns of the school.

Ms Cresswell also said the enrolment criteria of 100 full-time students would be a tight squeeze at the school with four classrooms. She said it was important that any school eventually slatted for closure was given at least 12 to 18 months' notice.

Ringarooma Primary School Association chairwoman Lou Hayward said she was sceptical of what the government would do with the report.

She said enrolments this year would be just under 100 students, so she was concerned how hard and fast the government would stick to a criteria based on these figures.

``We're getting 100 per cent of our kids in our catchment area,'' Ms Hayward said. ``If you're getting all of your kids then why should we close?''

Ms Hayward also raised concern that with the new irrigation developments in the area, the loss of the school would see potential new families discouraged from moving to the area.

The fight was just starting again, according to Avoca Primary School chairwoman Lyn Williams.

``It's not good at all but we didn't expect any different I suppose,'' Ms Williams said.

``We'll definitely fight this; for the kids to have to go through this again is going to be hard.'' She said some children would have to travel 50 minutes each way to Campbell Town if the school closed.