Discusses results of questionnaires (2,847 sent, 1,100 returned) from a random sample of teachers, principals and school board members in 48 states. Schools/districts were K-12 under 300 pupils, high schools under 200 students, or elementary schools under 15 per grade. Lists rural strengths, rural education recommendations. (AN)

Today, after nearly 100 years of pressure toward consolidation, communities which have resisted consolidation for the last generation are finally getting some support. Some of this support comes from simple facts and figures. There is strong evidence that centralized schools are expensive, remote from the communities they are supposed to serve,…