Common
Features
What Do Small Schools Look Like?
What Are the Benefits of Small Schools?
Common Misconceptions about Small Schools
As the name
indicates, size is one determining characteristic of a small school,
yet small schools are about much more than size. The concept
of small schools is based on the premise that, in contrast to
large, factory-model schools, small schools can create a more
intimate learning environment that is better able to address the
needs of those within the school. Students, teachers, and
parents may all be better served if the school is small enough
to allow for communication to flow, opportunities for collaboration
to be cultivated, and meaningful relationships to be fostered.
COMMON
FEATURES
-
Each
small school is unique to the community that it serves, however,
there are some common features that often characterize good
small schools.
-
A maximum
population of 250-300 students in a heterogeneous mix that
represents the local school community
-
A non-exclusive
admissions policy
-
A consistent
educational experience for students over an extended period
of time (more than one year)
-
A coherent
focus and philosophy of education, and a curriculum that is
integrated around that focus
-
A cohesive
group of teachers that collaborate and discuss the needs of
their students
-
A sense
of shared leadership and investment among those in the small
school
-
Involvement
of families in the school community
WHAT DO
SMALL SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE?
Organization:
Each small school may be configured differently. Small schools
may be:
-
Free-standing
small schools: Small school with their own facilities and
administration
-
Schools-within-schools:
One or more small schools which develop within a larger, "host"
school
-
Multiplex:
One building specifically intended to house several small
schools
-
Scatterplex:
Two or more small schools at different sites that share a
principal
-
Charter
schools: Independent, often small, public schools, designed
and operated by educators, parents, community leaders, educational
entrepreneurs and others
See
Small
Schools by Design from Catalyst
Physical
Environment:
A small school may want to consider how its physical environment,
from the architecture of the building (or the choices about how
the pre-existing building is used), to the aesthetics of the hallways
and classrooms, can facilitate its functioning and reflect its
educational goals.
Physical
Learning Environment Links
Physical
Learning Environment Articles
WHAT ARE
THE BENEFITS OF SMALL SCHOOLS?
Research
shows that some of the benefits of small schools include:
-
Higher
student achievement
-
Students
are more visible
-
Reduced
violence and disruptive behavior
-
Improved
attendance and graduation rates
-
Increased
teacher satisfaction
-
More
cost effective
COMMON
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SMALL SCHOOLS
Small schools mean small class size - Not necessarily.
A small school may or may not have classes of small size.
However, some of the benefits of small class size (more personalized
instruction and more manageable classroom atmosphere) can be achieved
in a small school regardless of class size. A small school offers
an environment in which students are more visible. In other
words, students can be better known by their teachers, allowing
teachers to more easily identify individual talents and unique
needs of each student and therefore offer a more personalized
educational experience. A small school staff size allows more
opportunity for teachers to know each other well, more easily
share information about their students, collaborate to solve problems,
and generally support one another.
Small Schools
is just another program - False. Small schools are a
way of restructuring schools and the human relationships inside
them.
