High Schools: Size Does Matter - The College of Education - The ...

Small Schools Page 5 of 7
Issue Brief Vol. 1, Issue 1
that spent by schools with over 2,000
students. What is more, looking at cost per
graduate has been argued to be more
useful than the traditional cost per student
comparison. When looking at the cost per
graduate, the cost for small schools was
$49,553, compared to $49,578 at larger
schools.
Lawrence et al. (2002) and Wasley et al.
(2000) asserted that it is far more costly to
allow students to drop out than it is to
Optimal Size
Findings on what consititutes the optimally
small school have varied drastically from
one researcher to the next. Some have
recommended schools as small as 100
total enrollment to no more than 900
students. The most recent findings
reported numbers between 150 and 300
students, depending on the school level.
Lawrence et al. (2002) provided the
following guidelines for the ideal upper
limits of small size for schools with
Effective Small Schools
In her summary of the literature on small
schools, Cotton (2001) outlined a number
of elements necessary for the effectiveness
of small schools:
1. a high degree of autonomy
2. separate physical and psychological
boundaries between schools
3. distinctive attributes setting it apart
from schools in close proximity
4. a self-selected student body, faculty,
and staff
5. flexibility in scheduling
6. a self-created vision and mission
7. a thematic focus
8. an emphasis on academic press as
well as social support
9. clear, concrete, and detailed plans of
underpinnings and procedures
10. knowing students well
invest in students’ graduating. Social costs
of large schools examined in the Lawrence
et al. (2002) report include higher dropout
rates, lower graduation rates, high rates of
violence and vandalism, higher
absenteeism, and higher teacher
dissatisfaction. Lawrence et al. wrote, “This
report indicates that creating facilities for
small schools can be done cost effectively,
and that in fact, the cost of large schools is
higher considering their negative
outcomes” (p. 21).
conventionally wide grade spans:
• High schools (Grades 9–12): 75
students per grade level (300 total
enrollment);
• Middle schools (Grades 5–8): 50
students per grade level (200 total
enrollment); and
• Elementary schools (Grades 1–6): 25
students per grade level (150 total
enrollment) (Lawrence et al., 2000).
11. heterogeneity and nontracking
12. looping
13. consensus building
14. self-directed and conducted
professional development
15. integrated curriculum and teaching
teams
16. a large repertoire of instructional
strategies
17. multiple forms of assessment
18. authentic accountability and credibility
19. support of districts, boards, and
legislatures
20. networking with other small learning
communities for support, increased
accountability, and mutual learning
21. a thorough implementation of all small
school structures and practices in a
timely manner.
Optimal Number of
Students:
High Schools: 300
Middle Schools: 200
Elementary Schools: 150