One Big Myth Is Being Disproven by School Choice’s Victories This Year

The claim that rural voters don’t want school choice has long been a crutch for opponents of educational freedom. They’ve portrayed rural communities as tethered to public schools, uninterested in alternatives, and lacking private options.

But 2025 has demolished that narrative. Six states — Idaho, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming — have advanced universal school choice policies this year, proving that rural families aren’t just open to choice; they’re demanding it.

CD

About the Author

Corey DeAngelis

Corey DeAngelis is a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a senior fellow at Americans for Fair Treatment.

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The claim that rural voters don’t want school choice has long been a crutch for opponents of educational freedom. They’ve portrayed rural communities as tethered to public schools, uninterested in alternatives, and lacking private options.

But 2025 has demolished that narrative. Six states — Idaho, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming — have advanced universal school choice policies this year, proving that rural families aren’t just open to choice; they’re demanding it.