Students in the nation’s rural high schools are less likely to have access to and take rigorous courses than their nonrural peers, which ultimately affects their postsecondary enrollment and success, according to a report.
The Rural Opportunities Consortium of Idaho found that, overall, rural students lag behind their nonrural peers in enrollment in advanced math, Algebra 2, and calculus. Rural students also trailed their suburban and urban peers in enrolling in upper-level math courses not required for graduation, such as trigonometry, and had slightly lower scores on the ACT exam. Researchers concluded that by completing less rigorous coursework, rural students are less prepared for college, and are less likely to attend and persist in college.
