The author reviews eight school size studies performed by doctoral students and graduate faculty at the University of South Carolina. These studies examine the relationship of South Carolina school size to academic achievement and to costs per student at all grade span groupings, including elementary, middle, and high school. The studies are categorized by grade span covered, and their methodology and findings summarized. Results of the studies are varied and sometimes contradictory, and additional issues arise such as poverty, differing results in grade spans, cost versus outcomes, middle and elementary school climate factors, and variance of the South Carolina findings from those in other states. Smaller middle schools appeared to produce better student outcomes, and where larger elementary and high schools appear to perform better, there is evidence that results vary dramatically depending on the children served.
Authors
- Authorizing Institution
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, Washington, DC.
- Education Level
- ['Elementary Education', 'Elementary Secondary Education', 'High Schools', 'Middle Schools', 'Secondary Education']
- Location
- South Carolina
- Peer Reviewed
- F
- Publication Type
- ['Information Analyses', 'Reports - Research']
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 1
- Kenneth R. Stevenson Introduction 1
- 2 School Size and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes and School Climate 2
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 2
- Overview of Eight South Carolina Studies 2
- Elementary School Studies 2
- School Size and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes and School Climate 3 3
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 3
- Middle School Studies 3
- 4 School Size and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes and School Climate 4
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 4
- School Size and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes and School Climate 5 5
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 5
- High School Studies 5
- School Size and Operating Costs 5
- 6 School Size and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes and School Climate 6
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 6
- Summary and Discussion of State-wide Studies on School Size 6
- School Size and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes and School Climate 7 7
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 7
- Concluding Thoughts 7
- 8 School Size and Its Relationship to Student Outcomes and School Climate 8
- National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 8
- References 8
- Additional Information Availability 8
