For decades, educational research has looked at the question of school size and its effect on school culture, student behaviors, and student outcomes. Previous “Is Bigger Better?” posts on this site (linked here and here) only scratch the surface. See more below.

The Canajoharie and Fort Plain School Districts are attempting to convince the voters that a merged school will provide a better educational environment for our students. The previous “Is Bigger Better” posts on this site, linked above, provide research-based evidence that bigger schools provide fewer effective opportunities, poorer student motivation and reduced student achievement. An article published in the national education magazine Phi Delta Kappan in 2001 summarizes additional research extolling the advantages of smaller schools. (1)

The first study summarized in Kappan sought the answers to three questions: “Do teachers in small schools take more responsibility for students’ academic and social development, and do they think their colleagues also do? Does the willingness to take responsibility for achievement actually enhance achievement? Does school size have an impact on student achievement that is independent of the collective responsibility for achievement expressed by the teachers?” This research analyzed data from 264 schools. Small schools were defined as those with enrollments less than 400.

The results: “The answer to all three questions is yes. ‘The findings are straightforward and consistent. Small elementary schools work better on the outcomes we examined. In schools with fewer than 400 students, teachers report that they and their colleagues assume more responsibility for student learning. Students attending smaller schools also learn more mathematics over a year.’ The study found that size affected achievement directly, as well as indirectly through the responsibility for student achievement assumed by teachers.” (2)

The second reviewed document in the Kappan article is a series of papers published by the Bank Street School of Education. The article states: “The 90 pages (in this series of papers) cover an enormous range of data on achievement, social relations, satisfaction, morale, and other variables. The summary statement contends, ‘These small schools increase student attendance rates and significantly increase student persistence and student performance. More students complete courses, get higher grades, and graduate. Further, parents, teachers, students, and community members alike are more satisfied with their schools, believe in them, and want to see them continue to grow.’” (3)

The research results are clear. The idea that a bigger school will be better for teachers, students and the community is robustly refuted by consistent research results. Small schools, like the schools that we have now, are better for schools and for communities.