Provides data from the March 1988 Current Population Survey on percentages of nonmetro adults with college degrees and high school diplomas. Outlines rural-urban differences, sex differences, racial differences, and changes from 1974 to 1988. Discusses outmigration of college graduates from rural areas. (SV)

Reports survey of difficulties encountered by rural and urban primary care physicians in Georgia. Finds rural doctors experience more problems than urban counterparts. Urges community cooperation and assistance from established local physicians to make transition to rural area easier for new physicians and their families. (LFL)

A survey of 152 public officials in three rural southwestern Ohio counties showed that when compared to officials who belonged to no professional associations, local officials who belonged to professional organizations were more likely to recognize when local problems required outside help and more likely to know where to get that help. (JHZ)

Analysis of National Assessment of Educational Progress achievement scores, 1975-92, indicates that nonmetropolitan 17-year-old students scored only slightly lower than metropolitan students in reading and mathematics, and at the same level in science. Comparatively faster improvement during the period was seen in Southern nonmetro scores and…

Current Population Survey data indicate that in 1991, only 40% of rural workers had received training on current jobs. Less educated, minority, and Southern rural workers were particularly unlikely to receive training. The nonmetropolitan training rate rose modestly, 1983-91, but less rapidly than the metropolitan rate, suggesting that fewer rural…

National survey data indicate that 91% of metropolitan high school seniors and 78% of nonmetropolitan seniors had computers available in math classes. Computer availability was lowest in nonadjacent rural counties and in the South. Nevertheless, metro and nonmetro students reported similar frequency of computer use; 71% and 69%, respectively,…

March 1992 Current Population Survey data were used to identify persons in central city, suburban, and rural areas with multiple disadvantages: high school dropouts, welfare recipients, never-married mothers, underemployed men, and poor people. About 26% of adults with multiple disadvantages lived in rural areas. Of those, 69% were white and 65%…

Describes the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program (JOBS) which creates education, training, and employment opportunities for those who receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Questions the effectiveness for rural areas resulting from: (1) limited employment opportunities; (2) characteristics of the eligible rural population; and…

Examines general demographic, social, and economic situation of older rural people and how their conditons do or do not differ from those of older urbanites. Contrasts migration trends, living arrangements, income, housing, transportation, communication, and health. Figures and tables provide population, residency, living arrangement, and poverty…

Analysis of data from the Schools and Staffing Survey, 1987-88, reveals that compared to metropolitan schools, nonmetropolitan schools are smaller, have fewer teachers with advanced degrees, and offer fewer advanced or remedial classes. However, smaller rural schools often provide smaller classes, more teacher attention, and a less stressful…

A larger proportion of nonmetropolitan elderly assess their health as fair or poor when compared to elderly living in metropolitan areas. In addition, larger proportions of elderly living in nonmetropolitan areas have less than a high school education and income below $20,000--factors contributing to a higher incidence of poor health. (LP)

The nonmetropolitan dropout rate fell sharply, 1975-93, closing the nonmetro-metro gap. National longitudinal data on dropout risk factors related to family, community, and local labor market reveal that low parental education and income are the greatest barriers to reducing rural dropouts. High school students had unrealistic educational and…

Rural high school graduates are less likely to graduate from college than their urban counterparts, mostly because they are less likely to attend college. Half of rural college attendees leave home and do not return by age 25. Those that do return are drawn largely by home ties and intervening life choices rather than local job opportunities.…

Nine county-level urban-influence categories were developed to enhance research on geographic differences in economic opportunities. Categories differ along many social and economic dimensions: population growth, educational attainment, employment growth, earnings, presence of institutions of higher learning, and hospital and physician supply.…

Whatever migration patterns evolve, changes in the age structure mean that rural communities in general can expect fairly stable elementary school population, reduced high school population, slower growth in new business and employment, and continued increase in the elderly population. (JHZ)