sun disappearing behind a horizon with a mountains, open field, and tall grass at the forefront

"Rural districts are an often-overlooked part of the complex American education system, even though 9.3 million students—or one in five nationally—attend a rural school. These districts are typically disregarded because of their small populations compared with larger single districts in more urban areas. In terms of funding, national and state legislation tends to be more directly applied to the larger districts in an attempt to effect the most positive change for as many students as possible. However, when considered as a group, rural districts encompass a large number of students nationwide ... To meet the specific needs of rural students, there are a variety of strategies that can help guarantee access to learning."

Addressing the Challenges of Rural Students