[1] The ranch school movement began in the Western United States in the early 1900s as a way to educate children who lived on ranches in remote and rural areas, far away from regular schools in the towns and cities.
[1] At the time, Americans widely believed that the arid climate of the Western states could help children recuperate from conditions like asthma.
The hard work that went with living and working on a ranch and spending a lot of time outdoors was also appealing to those who wanted their children to grow up strong, healthy and independent.
[1][2] Arizona led the nation in the number of ranch schools, most of which were in the Tucson area.
[1][2] Ranch schools were advertised in magazines and newspapers, drawing in students and their families from across the country, and as a result are credited with contributing to the growth of the tourism industry in the Southwest in the early 1900s.