The Benefits of Small Schools
Dr. Rebecca Deutscher, Special to the Daily Press
Do children really benefit from being in a small school? The research department at the Lewis Center for Educational Research was determined to find out the answer to this question. We examined the literature on this topic and found lots of advantages of being in a small school. The main benefits of large schools were in regards to saving costs and resources. However, our children are the ones who are hurt if our society decides that saving dollars is more important than our children's future.
The research has shown some powerful relationships between students' academic and behavioral success and small school size. Students in small schools perform academically just as well or better than those in large schools. No studies have found that children in large schools perform better (Bailey from the Center for Rural Affairs, 2000; McRobbie from WestEd, 2001; Wasley, Fine, Gladden, Holland, King, Mosak, & Powell from Bank Street College in New York, 2000)
The number of violent and behavior problems decreases tremendously in smaller schools. These behaviors include truancy, classroom disorder, vandalism, aggressive behavior, theft, substance abuse, and gang participation. According to the U.S. Department of Education's report from 1996-1997, big schools had 825% more violent crime, 270% more vandalism, 378% more theft and larceny, 394% more physical fights or attacks, 3200% more robberies, and 1000% more weapons incidents compared to smaller schools. There have also been studies that have shown that there is increased attendance and a lower student dropout rate in smaller schools (Bailey from the Center for Rural Affairs, 2000; McRobbie from WestEd, 2001; National Center for Education Statistics 2000 Report, 2003; Wasley, Fine, Gladden, Holland, King, Mosak, & Powell from Bank Street College in New York, 2000).
Students are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities because there is more of a sense of community in a smaller school. Also in a larger school there is more competition to get on a sports team, so if you are not very good at a particular sport you will not be able to participate (Bailey from the Center for Rural Affairs, 2000; McRobbie from WestEd, 2001).
The literature has also shown many personal advantages with small schools. In these schools, stronger personal bonds are formed. Students feel more connected with other students and teachers. These schools have more parent and community involvement. The staff often knows the parents and children by name and as a result there is a closer community. These smaller schools are simpler and are more focused. Therefore, communication is easier with staff and students. Research has also indicated improved instructional quality since teachers can focus more on individual students' needs. Teachers have been found to be more satisfied in their jobs and working conditions when they work in small schools. In a small school, a culture of caring and rigor is developed based on the close relationships between teachers, parents, and students (McRobbie from WestEd, 2001).
The research indicates that small schools are beneficial for our children's education. . If we try to save money and resources by continuing to put more students into our schools, we are harming our children. Our goal should be to base the number of schools we need on what most benefits our children's education.
Dr. Rebecca Deutscher received her Ph.D. at Arizona State University in Educational Psychology in 1999. She has worked in the research department at the Lewis Center for about 2 years examining various educational topics, such as parent involvement, hands-on approaches to learning, behavior, motivation, achievement, and many others.
Used with permission by Daily Press, Freedom Communication, 2004