Study examines rural Ga. students

Associated Press

Georgia has one of the nation's largest rural student populations, but one of the lowest graduation rates among those students.

That's according to a new report by the Rural School and Community Trust, a national nonprofit organization that studies the topic.

"Why Rural Matters 2009" examines how each state performs on rural education. It found that Georgia had the third highest rural enrollment size, but graduated fewer than six out of every 10 rural students.

It also looked at reading and math scores among 4th grade rural students, and found Georgia youths performing at some of the lowest levels in the country.

Other recent studies have shown rural children slipping into poverty faster than urban counterparts in several Southern states, including Georgia.