Rural Explosion: ELL Doubles

The enrollment of English language learners (ELL) in rural communities has more than doubled over the last 15 years and nearly half of these students live in the Southeast, where states are ill-equipped to serve them.

“Why Rural Matters 2007” says that while public school enrollment in the United States has increased over the last few years by about 602,000 students, or one percent, enrollment in rural schools—those in communities with a population of less than 2,500—increased by more than 1,339,000, or 15 percent.

More importantly, there’s been a 55 percent increase in the enrollment of minority students, with some states experiencing increases of more than 100 percent, says the report by the Rural School and Community Trust, a nonprofit organization that strives to improve rural schools and communities.

Sadly, rural schools—located in states with the most impoverished, minority, and ELL students—receive the fewest dollars even though they must invest additional resources so that their students can reach the same level of achievement as other states.