A 500-Square-Mile Colorado District Builds Belonging Through Community Ties
In a Rooted + Rising reflection, Carmen Anarella argues that rural education in South Routt County, Colorado, cannot be understood by the label rural alone. Drawing on Yampa and the Soroco school district, which spans 500 square miles, she describes a school system whose strength comes from long relationships between students, families, teachers, neighbors and alumni. For Anarella, the defining feature is not remoteness but the way the community keeps showing up for young people — in classrooms, at milestones and during emergencies.
The Aspen Institute·May 11, 2026·5 min read