College enrollment and persistence in rural Pennsylvania schools (REL 2015-053)

This study analyzes average rates of college enrollment and first- to second-year college persistence among rural and nonrural regular public high schools in Pennsylvania for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 high school graduation cohorts. It describes the association of student-, school-, and college-level factors with enrollment and persistence outcomes. Key findings include: Rural schools had higher average college enrollment and persistence rates than city schools but lower rates than suburban and town schools. Rural–fringe schools had higher average college enrollment and persistence rates than rural–distant or rural–remote schools. Most graduates of high schools in all locales went to public four-year colleges and in-state colleges. Rural schools with a larger population of economically disadvantaged students had lower college enrollment and persistence rates than rural schools serving a smaller population of economically disadvantaged students—even after controlling for other factors.Research ReportPublishe

Consolidation of school and districts: What the research says and what it means

PublishedBriefs published by the National Education Policy Center (NEPC) are blind peer-reviewed by members of the Editorial Review Board members.Research repor

Superintendent turnover in Kentucky (Issues & Answers Report,REL 2011–No. 113)

This study examines superintendent turnover in Kentucky public school districts for 1998/99–2007/08, looking at how turnover varies by rural status, Appalachian and non-Appalachian region, and 2007/08 school district characteristics.PublishedResearch Repor

Do schools in rural and nonrural districts allocate resources differently? An analysis of spending and staffing patterns in the West Region states (Issues & Answers Report, REL 2011–No. 099)

This study of differences in resource allocation between rural and nonrural districts finds that rural districts in the West Region spent more per student, hired more staff per 100 students, and had higher overhead ratios of district-to school-level resources than did city and suburban districts. Regional characteristics were more strongly related to resource allocation than were other cost factors studied.Research reportPublishe