These Rural Texas High Schools are Teaming Up…

By Janet Shamlian, Alicia Hastey | CBS News

Agua Dulce, Texas — From 2010 to 2020, the population of rural America declined, marking the first decade-long loss in history, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's presented a problem for rural schools with limited resources. 

But a community in south Texas has figured out a solution: five schools across four counties in several different school districts have teamed up to share speciality opportunities among students.

"We looked across the street, we looked at close neighbors and said, 'What are you guys doing well and what can we take advantage of as a school district?'" said Michael Gonzales, executive director of Rural Schools Innovation Zone, a nonprofit that runs the initiative.