The ongoing debate about dismantling the Department of Education—an idea proposed during President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign—has largely ignored its potential impact on rural schools.
These institutions depend significantly on federal funding, more so than their urban counterparts.
When educational reforms are discussed, rural education often doesn’t get its fair share of attention.
Much of what policymakers and researchers create seems tailored to urban and suburban contexts.
This oversight not only diminishes the needs of rural schools but also perpetuates misconceptions about them, overlooking the tenacity and promise that exists in these educational environments, where a significant 20% of the nation’s students are enrolled.
Challenging Misconceptions
As advocates for rural education, we want to share three crucial insights that debunk widespread myths.
We believe that understanding these truths can guide policymakers in developing strategies to better support students in rural areas.
- Rural Diversity is Increasing
- Rural Educators’ Expertise
- Rural Student Achievements
A prevalent misconception is that rural communities are primarily white.
In reality, these areas are becoming increasingly diverse.
While a substantial number of rural counties do still have predominantly white populations, U.S. Census data shows that the representation of people of color in rural regions grew from 20% in 2010 to 24% in 2020.
Interestingly, in approximately 10% of rural counties, residents of color outnumber white residents.
This demographic shift results from ongoing migration trends; many white individuals have left rural regions, while over 2 million people from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds have moved into these areas.
Additionally, the population of multiracial individuals in rural communities has surged to nearly 4 million during the same timeframe, with significant growth in the Latino population, except in Arizona.
Understanding Rural Educators
Although there has been a slight decline in the rural Black population recently, the rural South is still home to the largest group of Black residents outside urban centers.
Recognizing these demographic complexities is vital for educators and policymakers so they can address the unique needs of these students effectively.
Ignoring these trends could worsen opportunity gaps, particularly for students in Southern rural areas.
Another myth asserts that educators in rural settings lack the resources or expertise needed to effectively teach their students.
This assumption often leads to an exclusion of the rich cultural assets found within rural communities from educational resources, such as textbooks and teacher training programs.
Consequently, these materials fail to reflect local customs, knowledge, and values.
Funding patterns exacerbate this issue as well.
Current funding models often disadvantage rural schools due to their smaller sizes, leading to closures or consolidations of schools instead of recognizing their important need for additional resources to offset lower local tax revenues.
A notable effort from Michigan State University seeks to remedy this by collaborating with historically Black colleges in the rural South to improve access to advanced science courses for students.
The Achievements of Rural Students
The belief that rural students are consistently underperforming academically is yet another misconception.
In actuality, these students achieve outcomes similar to their urban peers, particularly in their early school years.
Research indicates that rural students outshine their non-rural counterparts in math and reading scores prior to the third grade.
Though there is an undeniable need for additional state and federal funding to expand summer learning opportunities, rural students boast graduation rates that exceed those of urban students.
However, the rate of college enrollment among rural students is lower than that of their urban counterparts.
This gap can be attributed to various challenges, such as transportation difficulties, long distances to college campuses, and a lack of awareness about financial aid possibilities.
By confronting these misconceptions and recognizing the unique strengths found in rural communities, we can pave the way for an educational landscape where every student, regardless of their geographic location, has the chance to achieve lasting educational and economic success.
Source: The74million