South Dakota is one of our most rural states: 62% of all public schools are rural, 43% of all public school students attend rural schools, and 75% of rural districts are smaller than the national median. More than forty-five cents of every state dollar spent on education goes to rural schools. Socioeconomic challenges are critical, and the percentage of English Language Learners is among the nation’s highest (12th). Instructional expenditures per pupil are below the U.S. median, and instructional salaries are lower than all but one state. Still, scores on the National Assessment on Educational Progress are above average, and graduation rates are high, ranking the state 24th in the nation in need of rural education improvement and attention.