In the early 1920s, the small Appalachian community of Damascus, Virginia, used private subscriptions and volunteer labor to build a 15-classroom school made of rocks from a nearby river and chestnut wood from nearby forests. The school building's history, uses for various community activities, and current condition are described. (SV)

A study examined factors related to effectiveness of rural Title I schoolwide programs by comparing two more-effective and two less-effective rural elementary schools--one in each of four Virginia districts. Effectiveness was determined by student achievement levels on standardized tests in comparison to the scores expected based on social and…

This study examined the nature of and types of school involvement of parents of children with disabilities from rural school districts in Virginia. Parents (N=52) of elementary and middle school children from three different rural school districts completed a questionnaire containing a Likert type scale and open-ended questions. The data were…