National Context of Rural Schools

A rural characterization is applied to areas with populations between 2,500 and 50,000 people, depending on the situation. Rural communities consist of individuals of differing values, belief systems, and characteristics. The pull to return “home” is strong and the rural area is always likely to be referred to as “home,” regardless of how long the individual has been living elsewhere. For rural youth, mentorships play an informative role in developing ambition where they instill in rural students the idea that they can realize their achievements with dedication and hard work. Church is the hub of many rural areas and is relied upon as a foundation for shaping the culture, beliefs, and traditions of several rural communities. The definitions of success for urban and rural families differ. An overemphasis on commercialism is not the only way rural communities may be changing. The rate at which rural schools spend money per pupil does not keep up with their urban and suburban counterparts.