In Nevada, approximately nine percent of students attend school in a rural school district; yet, the geographic area these districts cover is 87 percent of Nevada’s total
land. This report provides an overview of rural education in the Silver State and how demographics, student achievement, and state funding compare to urban districts. Demographically, rural districts vary significantly from urban districts. The percentage of students that qualify for free-and-reduced price lunch (FRL), which is used as a proxy for poverty, is approximately 13 percentage points lower in rural areas. Additionally, rural school districts serve a smaller percentage of English Language Learners (ELLs) but a greater percentage of students with an Individual Education Program (IEP), which is the designation for special education.