In 1896 when the government opened this land for settlement, they set aside a quarter section of land every six miles to be used for schools. Every three miles there was a small plot set aside to build a school on. The quarter section may or may not have a school on it. It was rented out to the local farmers to help pay the expenses of the school system. Some of the school land has been sold, the rest is still leased by local farmers.
The little red school house signs that mark the location of the rural schools are sponsored by the Retired Teachers Association with the help of donations from former teachers and students.