Across rural America, enrollment declines are more than a funding challenge—they threaten the vitality of entire rural communities. When students leave, they take future talent and economic momentum with them. As rural areas grapple with labor shortages, aging populations and limited access to higher education, rural school educators know maintaining the status quo isn’t an option.
Forward-thinking rural leaders are beginning to embrace a more entrepreneurial mindset that centers students, families and employers as key stakeholders. This edu-preneurial approach focuses on adapting, innovating and collaborating to design flexible high-quality learning opportunities linked to career pathways and long-term community sustainability.
Know what your “customers” need—then design for them
Rural schools must do more than deliver instruction—they must compete for student enrollment and engagement in a landscape where learners have more choices than ever. But competition doesn’t mean abandoning public schools. Instead, it calls for deeper listening. What do rural students, families and employers really need?
According to Rachel McClain, President of Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN), it starts with understanding a few major needs:
- Reducing financial risk for postsecondary education
- Combating local brain drain caused by outmigration
- Increasing access to hands-on, career-aligned learning in rural areas
“We have to put an emphasis on rural,” McClain said. “That’s where our food comes from. It’s where our fuel comes from. It’s where our clothing comes from–all the things that keep society going from a foundational aspect–that’s coming from rural.”
The solution? Build flexible, personalized and competency-based learning experiences that meet students where they are—academically, geographically and emotionally. Whether through dual-credit programs, work-based learning or embedded industry credentials, these models empower rural students to stay engaged and chart their futures without leaving their communities behind.
Tapping into local strengths to stop the brain drain
About 60% of rural students who earn a college degree never return to their home communities. This “brain drain” puts pressure on rural school systems, health care and local government. But schools don’t have to passively watch their students leave—they can be central players in building career pathways that inspire students to stay.
Take the example of Roscoe, Texas, where a partnership between the school district and local businesses led to a co-located vet clinic on campus. Not only does it serve the region’s agriculture economy, but it also gives high school students hands-on experiences in a high-demand career field.
By creating meaningful partnerships with industries, colleges and nonprofits, rural schools can offer learners tangible, equal opportunities that meet labor market needs—and help students envision a future in their hometowns.
Expanding learning options through community collaboration
In many rural regions, the local public school is the only educational option. That’s why redesigning what school looks like—without dismantling what works—is so essential. From flexible hybrid microschools to interactive, place-based programs supported by local stakeholders, the most successful rural innovations are collaborative at their core.
As Miami Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Richard Ramos found in Arizona’s Globe and Miami communities, strong redesign efforts depend on redistributing ownership of student success across the entire community. By bringing parents, business leaders, nonprofit partners and educators together through structured conversations like “Business Partner Cafés,” Ramos helped cultivate a sense of collective responsibility—and collective action.
When community members are involved in shaping learning experiences, schools become centers of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Designing for a thriving future—together
Redesigning rural learning isn’t about abandoning tradition. It’s about using an entrepreneurial mindset to protect what matters most: student well-being, family involvement and economic development.
When schools act as conveners—bringing together stakeholders, industry partners and higher education—they become hubs for system-wide change. And that’s the kind of impact that can sustain rural school systems for the next generation.
Let’s create a successful partnership
Navigating the evolving landscape of rural education requires creative solutions. ASU Prep Global is here to help individual schools, school districts and rural leaders unlock new pathways for student success. We provide a comprehensive range of services, from K–12 digital course licensing and robust learning management systems to tailored teacher training and ongoing tech support—ensuring your educational goals and unique challenges are met with precision.
Teachers will always be critical to a child’s learning success, so we empower them with training to help students thrive in today’s dynamic, flexible and tech-supported classrooms. Through practical sessions on integrating emerging technologies and maintaining academic integrity, we equip teachers to lead and inspire students as agents in their own learning journeys.
In partnership with K–12 schools, ASU Prep Global is pioneering educational models that give students early access to college-level coursework and state-of-the-art digital learning experiences. Beyond being a curriculum provider, we are a committed school design partner, working closely with leaders to deliver high-quality, impactful learning models that open doors for all learners.
Our passion is rooted in partnerships with educational leaders to create unbound learning environments. We leverage Arizona State University’s cutting-edge research, together with best practices derived from both research and from our own network of schools to drive success in rural school systems and underserved communities.
Ready to build a thriving rural school system?
Want to explore more practical strategies, real-world case studies and proven frameworks to help rural schools? Read our full white paper: “Redesigning Rural: Building New Learning Models Through Edu-Preneurial Strategies.”
You may also be interested in reading:
- Competing for Students: How Rural Schools Can Innovate and Stay Relevant
- Bringing Learning Beyond the Classroom and Into the Real World
- How Rural Schools Can Build Strong Community and Industry Partnerships
- Designing Rural Schools That Thrive by Thinking Differently