When it comes to rural school facilities, the issues are many and the need for attention high. The Rural Trust’s small schools page addresses the payoff for schools and communities when they keep their schools small and close to home. Moreover, recent research has demonstrated that smaller schools do not cost more per square foot or per pupil. Rural schools are affected by a myriad of other policy issues and considerations:

• Designing with and for the community, such as creating a multi-purpose community facility;
• Keeping up with school building maintenance and repair;
• Fighting acreage requirements and keeping schools located within the community;
• Understanding zoning, environmental concerns, and codes;
• Choosing cost-effective strategies;
• Keeping schools small and curbing consolidation.