Small and Rural Taskforce

Definition:
A small school refers to the size of the school in terms of student enrollment.

Characteristics:
• Typically has fewer students compared to urban or suburban schools.
• Often operates with limited resources or extracurricular opportunities due to budgeting or staff constraints.
• Can be located in urban, suburban, or rural settings.

Example:
A single-building district serving a few hundred students across all grades.

Definition:
A rural school refers to the location and community it serves, typically in areas outside urban and suburban regions with low population density.

Characteristics:
• Located in geographically isolated areas, such as farming communities or wilderness regions.
• Often serves a wide geographical area with fewer students, resulting in longer commutes for students.
• Faces unique challenges, such as teacher shortages, infrastructure limitations, and fewer local funding resources.

Examples:
• A high school in a farming town with 50 students per grade.
• A school district covering multiple small towns or villages.

Definition:
Many rural schools are small schools because they serve low-density populations. However, not all small schools are rural, and not all rural schools are small.

Examples:
• A small school may be in a large city and surrounded by larger schools. As a result, it may face challenges such as limited resources or lack of attention to its unique needs.
• A rural school may be located miles away from the nearest urban center. Therefore, it may struggle with inadequate resources and limited consideration in state-level policymaking.