Sizing Up Class Size: Why Smaller Is Better
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:48 am
Searching for the right school for your child can be an overwhelming task. Does the school have a good reputation? What is its safety record? How qualified are the teachers and staff? How many students are there, and what are they like?
And what about all the buzz on class size? Is class size really important? Experts say yes, and here's why:
Individualized Attention
In smaller classes, children receive individualized attention email data from teachers, which is particularly beneficial for kids with attention deficit or learning disabilities. Most parents who have teens with learning or behavioral issues know their kids are intelligent and capable. They also know these children can "get lost in the shuffle" in a traditional academic setting with 20-30 other kids of all backgrounds and abilities. In small group settings, teachers have the time to assess a student's problems, learning difficulties, or attention issues early on and can not only recommend appropriate action but also ensure results are achieved.
When a child struggles in public school, parents often seek out one-on-one or small group tutoring, precisely because of the advantages of individualized attention. When a student believes a teacher is invested in his success and well-being, he feels valuable, worthy and confident in his abilities.
Academic Improvement
Research suggests that small class size results in higher academic achievement. These academic gains generally occur when class size is reduced to less than 20 students. Tennessee's Project STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Ratio), a massive, controlled study conducted in the 1980s by the State Department of Education, catalogued the positive effects of small class size on student achievement in all subject areas. With results published in the American School Boards Journal and featured in many periodicals since, the authors noticed drastic improvements in a child's education when class size decreased.
The STAR research as well as a smaller study done in North Carolina suggest that the main benefits occur in the first year a student is in a small class and generally are sustained in subsequent years. A follow-up study found that students assigned to small classes graduated on schedule at a higher rate (76%) than students from regular classes (64%) and completed school with an honors diploma more often (45%) than students from regular classes (29%). Assignment to smaller classes also resulted in a decrease in teen pregnancy rates among some groups.
Since smaller classes foster greater academic engagement, they also lead to lower dropout rates. A statistical analysis using data from the National Center for Education Statistics revealed that graduation rates were consistently highest when student-teacher ratios were lowest. Children in small classes also were less likely to be "held back" a grade and had fewer disciplinary problems and issues with school crime and violence.
Positive Impact on Teachers
Teachers who are equipped with the right tools and the right setting do a better job. Evidence suggests teachers generally have better morale in a small class and are less likely to feel overwhelmed by overseeing a variety of students with different backgrounds and achievement levels. As a result, they are more likely to provide a supportive environment where students are comfortable expressing themselves and actively participating in class.
Some studies have found that small classes allow teachers to spend more time on instruction and less on classroom management. In a smaller, quieter environment, there is more accountability for actions. Students learn how to function more effectively as members and leaders of groups and are encouraged to offer opinions. With fewer students in the class, children develop more meaningful interactions with others, improve human relations, and have greater regard for others.
And what about all the buzz on class size? Is class size really important? Experts say yes, and here's why:
Individualized Attention
In smaller classes, children receive individualized attention email data from teachers, which is particularly beneficial for kids with attention deficit or learning disabilities. Most parents who have teens with learning or behavioral issues know their kids are intelligent and capable. They also know these children can "get lost in the shuffle" in a traditional academic setting with 20-30 other kids of all backgrounds and abilities. In small group settings, teachers have the time to assess a student's problems, learning difficulties, or attention issues early on and can not only recommend appropriate action but also ensure results are achieved.
When a child struggles in public school, parents often seek out one-on-one or small group tutoring, precisely because of the advantages of individualized attention. When a student believes a teacher is invested in his success and well-being, he feels valuable, worthy and confident in his abilities.
Academic Improvement
Research suggests that small class size results in higher academic achievement. These academic gains generally occur when class size is reduced to less than 20 students. Tennessee's Project STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Ratio), a massive, controlled study conducted in the 1980s by the State Department of Education, catalogued the positive effects of small class size on student achievement in all subject areas. With results published in the American School Boards Journal and featured in many periodicals since, the authors noticed drastic improvements in a child's education when class size decreased.
The STAR research as well as a smaller study done in North Carolina suggest that the main benefits occur in the first year a student is in a small class and generally are sustained in subsequent years. A follow-up study found that students assigned to small classes graduated on schedule at a higher rate (76%) than students from regular classes (64%) and completed school with an honors diploma more often (45%) than students from regular classes (29%). Assignment to smaller classes also resulted in a decrease in teen pregnancy rates among some groups.
Since smaller classes foster greater academic engagement, they also lead to lower dropout rates. A statistical analysis using data from the National Center for Education Statistics revealed that graduation rates were consistently highest when student-teacher ratios were lowest. Children in small classes also were less likely to be "held back" a grade and had fewer disciplinary problems and issues with school crime and violence.
Positive Impact on Teachers
Teachers who are equipped with the right tools and the right setting do a better job. Evidence suggests teachers generally have better morale in a small class and are less likely to feel overwhelmed by overseeing a variety of students with different backgrounds and achievement levels. As a result, they are more likely to provide a supportive environment where students are comfortable expressing themselves and actively participating in class.
Some studies have found that small classes allow teachers to spend more time on instruction and less on classroom management. In a smaller, quieter environment, there is more accountability for actions. Students learn how to function more effectively as members and leaders of groups and are encouraged to offer opinions. With fewer students in the class, children develop more meaningful interactions with others, improve human relations, and have greater regard for others.