Rural Schools and the Cost of Educational Inequality

By Mariana Ramirez

I was raised in Fortuna, Ca, a small rural town with friendly neighbors and little diversity. Although there was much charm to the small community and beautiful nature scenery, factors that plague most rural communities such as limited resources and support posed many challenges throughout my educational career. In attending public school throughout elementary to high school, it became clear how crucial proper funding is for the development and future of all students. In elementary school, staffing shortages and budget cuts normalized split grade classrooms for nearly every grade, which inherently strained individualized learning. As I progressed into middle and high school, those limitations became more visible. There were no nurses and limited support staff throughout my K-12 education and there was a complete lack of any specialized or advanced programs. My local high school served not only my town but furthermore all the surrounding small towns, making up for a student body of 900 students. Within my high school there were limited AP courses available, minimal extracurricular activities to pursue and inadequate early college-preparation guidance. Despite the size of the student body there were only three counselors and only one spoke Spanish. 

The most significant barrier I observed was not simply limited funding, but limited representation. Fortuna is located in the northern region of California which is predominantly white, and this demographic in turn impacted the small hispanic community and shaped the school system. Although there was a Hispanic community present, almost all of the staff such as counselors, administrators, and educators were not Hispanic or spoke Spanish and did not work to properly represent the Hispanic community. As the school focused on uplifting the majority it often left the minority overlooked. Yet, with only one counselor in the school who spoke Spanish, it made bridging the gap between college readiness for parents and students more challenging. As a first generation college student and latina, representation was so important, especially within navigating higher education. 

The disparities I experienced expose the structural inequalities within our public school system and the way California allocates funding. Especially in rural communities, where these budget limitations work to shape all sectors of education, such as hiring, programs offered, and the services that can be provided for marginalized and minority students.