Pennsylvania’s rural schools provide educational services to nearly 370,000 children – the sixth largest rural school population in the nation. Diversity among students is limited, though the state’s minority population is increasing rapidly. Socioeconomic challenges are moderately low, state and local revenue is shared fairly equally among rural districts, and per pupil instructional spending is well above the national median. In terms of other policy outcomes, however, the state fares less well: the ratio of transportation spending to instructional spending is the second highest among states and schools and districts are the 16th largest in the nation. Pennsylvania ranks 31st in the country in need of rural school attention and improvement.
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Why Rural Matters in Pennsylvania