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districts, including charter schools (TEA, 2023). Texas leads all states in the United
States with the highest number of rural school districts (TEA, 2023). Despite the
significant number of rural school districts in Texas and despite the state’s below-
average spending per student, studies have acknowledged favorable results for
many children and families. Texas allocates approximately $5,386 per rural student,
according to the Rural Schools and Community Trust (Phillips, 2019). Despite low
funding, 94% of rural students graduate from high school.
Dr. Sharonda Pruitt,
Assistant Professor in Postsecondary Plight of Rural Students
Educational Leadership
at Texas A&M University- Nonetheless, although graduation rates for rural students in Texas are strong,
Commerce, is a member the number of rural students continuing to college is much lower than the number
of Beta Lambda Chapter in of students from urban high schools. Research has found that more students from
Texas State Organization. urban school districts as compared to rural school districts attend postsecondary
With a strong interest preparation schools (Pennington, 2020; Sutherland et al., 2022). Data suggest
in urban and rural
communities, her research that 42% of all individuals aged 18–24 choose to enroll in college or university.
concentrations spotlight In comparison, in rural communities, 29% of the students continue into college
school leadership support (NCES, 2023). According to the NCES 2023 report, of these 29% of students who
for postsecondary received postsecondary school preparation in high school in rural districts, 35.1%
success, school- were African American and 32.1% were Hispanic, with Asian and American Indian/
community partnerships,
community-engaged Alaskan Native each at 2%. These numbers are reminders of the diversity in rural
leadership, rural/urban districts and schools. Rural schools that teach diverse students should strive to have
school leadership, and teachers and programs that will prepare all students for either college, military, or
comparative education. community work.

Sharonda.Pruitt@tamuc. Several reasons can explain why rural students do not receive preparation for
edu college. The main obstacle is that, on a national scale, one of every six rural students
in the K–12 setting resides below the poverty line. When specifically looking at
the racial background of the students, African American, Hispanic, and Latino
communities dominate (Adams & Farnsworth, 2020). The public schools they attend
often do not have the same expert teachers, courses, or experiences as do schools
in urban districts. In rural areas, students also face language barriers related to the
changing demographics elicited by the inclusion of Hispanic and Latino ethnicities.
In addition, high schools in rural schools often cannot provide exposure to a
specialized curriculum and instruction.
According to research findings, 23% of
rural students participate in dual-credit
...although graduation rates for courses, with only 10% successfully
passing advanced placement exams
rural students in Texas are strong, as compared to the national average

the number of rural students of 19% earning credit through this
route (Showalter et al., 2017). Another
continuing to college is much factor that influences rural students’
postsecondary attendance is that many
lower than the number of students rural schools cannot provide enough

from urban high schools. high-level math or science classes or even
provide the professional development
for teachers necessary to teach higher-
level courses effectively. These courses

8 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators