As an explanation for the predicament that many small/boarding schools in rural China have found themselves in，this article points out that the ways in which schools are perceived and evaluated have not only perpetuated the domination of schools’ cognitive functions over others but also blinded us from seeing a way out by failing to recognize other emerging roles of rural schools and to give the right kind of recognition and support these schools deserve. Holistical care about the life of students，teachers and villages，reconstruction schools’ philosophy under a redefinition of their roles，and effective coordinate with external stakeholders are the key elements of rural school reform. The author calls for different levels of school administration to recognize the independent agency of schools and to adjust ways in which schools are evaluated and supported，so that a better ecosystem for education could be constructed to support the growth of rural schools.