Surveying The Postsecondary Landscape In Rural America

Much attention is paid to urban America and its schools—and for good reason. Cities are home to millions of students, concentrated poverty and struggling schools. But fully 60 percent of U.S. counties are mostly or completely rural, and they are home to 14 percent of the nation’s population. Nearly 1 in 3 K-12 schools are in rural America, as well as 1 in 5 students.

While rural America does face many challenges, there is also reason for encouragement. Although there are fewer rural adults with college degrees and rural students enroll in fewer in AP courses, rural students in 3 of the 4 states studied appear to matriculate to college at similar rates as their peers from cities, suburbs and towns.

Because of strong community cohesion and trust in their long-standing local institutions, rural residents may be skeptical of efforts to fundamentally reform foundational elements of their social, occupational and educational fabric. And because the backstories and defining characteristics of different rural communities can be so different, any rural engagement effort should be mindful of the particular histories of distinct communities.