Rural schools educate 20% of America’s students, but the vast majority of education resources and innovation are focused in urban areas.
We start with schools, but we don’t stop there
Collegiate Edu-Nation is a non-profit organization engaging whole communities to reinvigorate education, revitalize local economies, and reimagine what’s possible for rural America. We’re preparing rural communities to connect and thrive in a fast-moving future.
CEN currently serves 21,000 students in 21 independent school districts and growing nationwide.
We plan to expand to 60 districts by 2026.
the CEN student experience…
%
will complete an associate degree by grade 12
%
will complete a bachelor's degree
%
will complete a postgraduate degree or certification
Supporting students, families, districts & communities
to end education and income inequality

Students & Families
college & career focus
Young people deserve real choices when it comes to where they live and how they work. We prepare students for college and career success, increasing their earning potential and expanding their options.

Superintendents & teachers
educator development
Small-town educators are passionate about improving outcomes for their students. We help districts access and navigate resources for dual credit programs, work & project-based learning, 1:1 student support, and more.

Businesses & Communities
educational attainment
We connect talented young people to local industries through place-based research and work-based learning, strengthening the bond between communities and schools and creating new pathways for rural economic growth.
Our Method
P-20 Model for 21st Century School Transformation
CEN promotes the P-20 Model for 21st Century School Transformation which focuses on heightened college and career aspirations through continuous educational attainment and industry-related certifications. We believe a mindset of high aspirations and high expectations on those fronts leads naturally to lifetimes of happiness, productivity, and success. We take a comprehensive approach to education, engaging whole communities in an effort that continues from the first day of Pre-K to the launch of a meaningful career.
In the News
TurbulenceSurfing
Every team, every organization experiences turbulence. Stuff happens that is unsettling, disruptive, distracting, off putting. How we respond to turbulence has a lot to do with how well we ultimately achieve the outcomes we desire. It also has much to do with the...
PowerQuestions
Good questions have extraordinary power to make us think and reflect. Here are three very simple, very short, very provocative questions: 1) What have you learned lately that has made you better? 2) How did it do so? 3) What do you think you need to learn next? GO!...
TrajectoryChanging
Simple choices can change trajectories. Consider what might happen if we were to... > Choose to be authentically present > Learn something new, continually > Help someone -- anyone -- every day > Challenge dogmas and question...
TurbulenceSurfing
Every team, every organization experiences turbulence. Stuff happens that is unsettling, disruptive, distracting, off putting. How we respond to turbulence has a lot to do with how well we ultimately achieve the outcomes we desire. It also has much to do with the...
PowerQuestions
Good questions have extraordinary power to make us think and reflect. Here are three very simple, very short, very provocative questions: 1) What have you learned lately that has made you better? 2) How did it do so? 3) What do you think you need to learn next? GO!...
TrajectoryChanging
Simple choices can change trajectories. Consider what might happen if we were to... > Choose to be authentically present > Learn something new, continually > Help someone -- anyone -- every day > Challenge dogmas and question...
TradeTools
Folks who work in the trades have many kinds of tools at their disposal. Some of the tools are quite pointy and/or extremely sharp. Scalpels used by surgeons and picks used by jewelers come to mind. On the other hand, some tools have wide reach and are, by design, not...
Thank You To Our
Biggest Supporters

CEN ANNUAL REPORT
Explore a year of CEN's impactful achievements and innovations in our 2024 Annual Report.
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