Educational research going back more than 60 years has consistently shown that smaller schools have more well-rounded and engaged students, better student outcomes, more active parental involvement and better community integration. It is truly astonishing that our local educational leaders continue to pretend that a larger, merged school will be better for our students and community.

Sixty years worth of consistent results from peer reviewed educational research is unlikely to be wrong. And that is exactly what is shared in the previous “Is Bigger Better?” posts linked below. That research (linked here) has publication dates from the 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s, and 2010’s; as well as 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. In this post I will be sharing research published in 1965; a literature review published in 2006 which includes results from dozens of studies done between 1959 and 2005; and research done in 2024. All include robust significant results showing smaller schools outperform larger schools in nearly every measure.

The first study, from 1965, is based on data from 218 high schools in Kansas, ranging in size from 2,287 down to just 18 students. Here is their conclusion: “students in the small schools participated in more activities, their versatility and performance scores were consistently higher, they reported more and “better” satisfactions, and displayed stronger motivation in all areas of school activity.” This conclusion is supplemented with specific findings. “Judged in terms of the number of subjects taken…the small school students tended to take more courses each.” “Judged in terms of participation in extracurricular activities…actual participations were higher for small school pupils” and their “performance ratings were found to be much higher…they were found to participate in a wider variety of activities.” Finally: “Judged in terms of ‘satisfactions’ associated with school, the small school students…reported not only more activities…but their kinds of satisfactions differed from those of large school students” who “mentioned mainly vicarious enjoyment,” while small school students “mentioned mainly satisfactions related to competence, challenge and activity.” (1)

The 2006 literature review was part of an extensive study done for the National Rural Education Association. Here are a few quotes from their conclusion. “After a thorough study of the history and research on school consolidation, it is the conclusion of the Consolidation Task Force Committee that NREA continue to support (that) rural communities should make every possible effort to maintain a physical school presence, and rural community and school leaders should take into account every possible variable to decide if “two are better than one.” Finally: “There is no ‘ideal’ size for schools or districts. Size does not guarantee success – effective schools come in all sizes. Smaller districts have higher achievement, and higher affective and social outcomes. The larger a district becomes, the more resources are devoted to secondary or non-essential activities…After a school closure, out migration, population decline, and neighborhood deterioration are set in motion, and support for public education diminishes. There is no solid foundation for the belief that eliminating school districts will improve education, enhance cost-effectiveness or promote equality.” (2)

This post’s final study, from 2024, used data from more than 21,000 schools spread across 80 countries. In discussing the ramifications of their results, the authors suggest: “Possible approaches could involve implementing strict class size restrictions, especially in early schooling where personalized attention is vital, and reorganizing bigger educational institutions into smaller learning communities to improve individualization and assistance. Furthermore, it is important to implement laws that provide fair and equal access to small-sized classrooms and schools among all socioeconomic and demographic groups.” (3)

Robust research for more than sixty years has consistently demonstrated that smaller schools produce better student attitudes, better student participation and better student results. Why, then, would we want to make a bigger school? Smaller, unmerged schools are better for students, better for teachers and better for our communities.