Did we do a good job?: Rural students evaluate their education and learning

Abstract

Small, rural schools are unique in many ways and the experiences of individual graduates are also distinctive. Through this study, six graduates of a remote school in rural Colorado were interviewed and their responses coded to provide insight into their perceptions of the rural high school experience. Based on their responses, it was found that four key themes emerged: the inherent limitations and challenges of attending a rural school; enhanced student autonomy; leadership opportunities available to students; and the expectations put upon students to participate in multiple extracurricular events and organizations. Analysis also determined that school culture and post-secondary workforce readiness became a valuable component of the rural student experience. This study paves the way for a longitudinal study focusing on the career and life outcomes of students involved in this study.