This introductory study examines the situation of small rural schools in Hungary using statistical data from 1990 to 2022. The paper aimed to identify settlements where primary education has been permanently absent or operates in a limited “small school” format. Findings reveal that school closures and the transformation into small schools are concentrated in peripheral areas burdened by social, economic, and infrastructural disadvantages. Nearly half of Hungarian settlements lack a primary school, while the number of small schools has steadily declined, with significant fluctuations in their status. The study highlights that remote, service-deficient regions fail to attract highly qualified teachers despite salary increases, further deepening educational inequalities. Maintaining small schools is not merely an educational policy issue but a matter of social cohesion, as the disappearance of local institutions perpetuates disadvantages and increases the risk of segregation.