This study examined minoritized student perceptions of connectedness through relationships, involvement, and environment in relation to their non-minoritized peers in rural Pennsylvania high schools. The study also examined academic and health risk behaviors of minoritized and non-minoritized students. A nonexperimental quantitative research design of cross-sectional data was used for this study. This researcher used secondary data analysis of the 2021 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS). Each year, PAYS results are shared with districts in a summary report and are disaggregated by grade level. Although identity status data is collected on each student, information is reported cumulatively. The final data set of 17,198 represented grade 10 students from rural PA schools who participated in the PAYS survey in 2021. For data analysis, students were categorized into two groups. Group 1 represented non-minoritized students who identified as white, cisgender, and heterosexual without a disability. Group 2 represented minoritized students who identified as a race other than white, a gender other than a binary gender, or who had a learning or physical disability. Every connectedness or risk variable tested in this study was found to be statistically significant. Findings indicated that minoritized students do not benefit from the protective factor of connectedness at the rate of their non-minoritized peers. Additionally, minoritized students are significantly more at risk both academically and personally than their non-minoritized peers in rural Pennsylvania schools. There is a clear need to improve connectedness and lower the risk for these vulnerable populations. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]