Little Compton's school age population is shrinking. The elementary and middle school population dropped from 348 children in 2001 to 241 students this year. Rhode Island is not the only state with this problem. Little Compton will start newspaper advertising next week in neighboring communities recruiting their children to come to class at Little Compton, where the average class size is 14 pupils.
This is what happens when families either have fewer children or do not form at all.
It is also the future for many of America's smaller communities.