Adolescent substance use in U.S. rural communities is now equal to or greater than urban use for many substances. Yet much research focuses on urban and suburban populations, raising doubt as to the generalizability of etiological models of substance use to rural populations.This study examines whether the relationship between school bonding and alcohol and drug use depends on level of rurality of the community in which an adolescent lives. Data were collected between 1996 and 2000 from a sample of junior and senior high schools in 193 predominantly white communities, stratified by region. Multilevel models were estimated for alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, and amphetamines. A strong negative relationship was found between school bonding and substance use, no matter the level of rurality. Results also suggested that school bonding might be more protective for drunkenness and marijuana use in the most remote communities.