A higher percentage of 4th and 8th grade students in rural public schools scored at or above the Proficient level in reading, mathematics and science assessments in 2005 than did public school students in cities, although a lower percentage scored at that level compared to students in suburban schools.

This conclusion is reported in an exhaustive study, the Status of Education in Rural America, undertaken by the National Center for Education Statistics, a division within the U.S. Education Department.

The new NCES system classifies the locale of schools districts and schools into one of 23 geographical categories and distinguishes between rural areas that are on the fringe of an urban area, rural areas that are at some distance, and rural areas that are remote. Using this new system, NCES found that in 2003-04 over half of all operating schools districts and one-third of all public schools in the United States were in rural areas, but that one-fifth of all public school students were enrolled in rural areas.

Significantly, the NCES study found a higher dropout rate in rural areas than in suburban areas, but a lower rate than in cities. The dropout rate was determined by the percentage of persons not enrolled in school and hot having completed high school among 16 to 24-year-olds.

The study found that public school expenditures per student were higher in rural areas in 2003-04 than in any other locale after adjusting for geographic cost differences. Lower teacher-to-student ratios and greater transportation costs would, however, offset some of the greater per-pupil expenditures.

More rural school teachers reported being satisfied with their teaching conditions, but a smaller percentage of rural school teachers than suburban teachers reported being satisfied with their salary. Public school teachers in rural areas earned less, on average, in 2003-04 than their peers in the other locales, even after adjusting for geographic cost differences.

The full study may be read online and a printed version will be available soon and can be ordered from NCES online.