USING SCHOOL SIZE RESEARCH TO BETTER INFORM DECISION-MAKING

Mary Jo Williams, Director of Special Services

Director of Special ServicesWhen it comes to school size, bigger does not equal better! In recent years there has been a great deal of research on school size, comparing small and large schools to determine how it affects many outcomes for students, parents, and teachers. What follows is a brief description of some of the more important findings.

Many researchers have focused their efforts on looking on school size and how it relates to many factors affecting student achievement and the well-being of students in school. They have found that students from small schools, on the average, have higher attendance rates, higher grade point averages, fewer discipline problems, and are more engaged in the activities and culture of their schools.

The effects on student achievement seem to be even more pronounced for at-risk students, where the research indicates that disadvantaged students in small schools do significantly better than same-age peers in large schools on tests of basic skills. Small schools reduce the impact of poverty on achievement, helping to close the gap between children of varying economic means.

The positive effects of small schools do not end with the children, but are also seen in the lives of the adults associated with the school. Parents of children in small schools report greater satisfaction with the school, and teachers indicate they are more satisfied with their work environments and the closer relationships they are able to develop with students and parents.

Some state legislatures are beginning to pay attention to the research on school size, and are using this information to attempt to improve student achievement. For example, citing the research outcomes on small schools, the Florida legislature passed legislation prohibiting the construction of any new elementary school greater than 500 students effective July 1, 2003. This legislation was passed “in order to promote increased learning and more effective use of school facilities”.

In our district, the enrollment at Ottawa Elementary and Glandorf Elementary varies from year to year, but typically runs from 450 - 500 students each. The chart below provides enrollment figures for area elementary schools, and is based on data provided by the Ohio Department of Education for the 2006-07 school year.

As the chart below indicates, the elementary schools in our district are already large in comparison to schools in the area. A combined Ottawa-Glandorf Elementary School in 2006-07 would have had an enrollment of 969 students. A building this large clearly is in opposition to what we know about the effectiveness of small schools. Our current master plan calling for two new elementary schools offers our children, parents, and communities what we truly need to be effective and responsible.

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