While William Marx focuses his comments on Minnesota information, he feels that the issues apply to other states as well. Minnesota has 382 school districts. Over 55 percent of the state's students are in the 42 largest school districts.
Rural districts have fewer students every year.
Metropolitan districts are building new facilities, reopening and renovating others. Rural districts are closing facilities, combining programs, and consolidating. Most metropolitan districts have large class sizes and higher teacher salaries. Rural districts have small class sizes and lower teacher salaries. Some metropolitan districts are refusing to accept students who want to come in under open enrollment programs because of a lack of space.