• home
  • store

ASCD Logo

  • ASCD.org
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Empower19
  • Navigate Applications
    • ASCD Activate
    • myTeachSource
    • PD In Focus
    • PD Online
    • Streaming Video
    • GoalWorks
  • Help

    ASCD Customer Service

    Phone
    Monday through Friday
    8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

    1-800-933-ASCD (2723)

    Address
    1703 North Beauregard St.
    Alexandria, VA 22311-1714

    Complete Customer Service Details

  • Log In
ASCD Header Logo
Click to Search
  • Topics
    • Assessment and Grading
    • Classroom Management
    • Differentiated Instruction
    • Poverty
    • School Culture and Climate
    • STEM
    • Teacher Leadership
    • Understanding by Design
    • Browse All Topics
  • Books & Publications
    • Browse Books
    • New Books
    • Member Books
    • ASCD Arias
    • Quick Reference Guides
    • Education Update
    • ASCD Express
    • Newsletters
    • Meet the Authors
    • Write for ASCD
    • ASCD Books in Translation
  • Educational Leadership
    • Current Issue
    • Browse EL Archives
    • Digital EL
    • EL Magazine App
    • Subscribe
    • Upcoming Themes
    • Write for EL
    • Tell Me About
    • Contact EL
  • Membership
    • Benefits
    • Team Memberships
    • Member-Only Webinars
    • Communities
  • Events
    • Empower19
    • Conference on Teaching Excellence
    • Conference on Educational Leadership
    • Global Leadership Summit
    • Institutes
    • Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy
    • Leader to Leader Conference
    • Exhibit with Us
  • Professional Learning
    • Webinars
    • ASCD Activate
    • PD Online
    • PD In Focus
    • ASCD myTeachSource
    • Consulting Services
    • Success Stories
    • Videos
    • White Papers
    • Emerging Leaders
  • About
    • Whole Child
    • Partnerships
    • Government Relations
    • Careers at ASCD
    • ASCD Job Ramp
    • Advertise
    • Sponsorship
    • Request an ASCD Speaker
    • News & Media
    • Annual Report
    • Governance
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Archives
  • Buy
  • Contact
  • Write for EU
Buy this issue
 Share |
You must be an ASCD member or subscriber to view this content.

To view this article,
  • Log in.
  • Become an ASCD member.
  • Read Abstract

February 2002 | Volume 59 | Number 5
Class Size, School Size Pages 55-59

Issue Table of Contents | Read Article Abstract

The Case for Small High Schools

Tom Vander Ark

Large, comprehensive high schools shortchange too many students. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation believes that, with the right elements in place, small schools offer a promising alternative.

Although elementary and middle schools have been the focus of numerous reform efforts, high schools have largely been ignored—and many of them are struggling to keep up. Even in the mid-1990s, when high schools began receiving better-prepared students, achievement remained flat (Campbell, Voelkl, & Donahue, 2000). One of the main problems is size: Many of today's high schools have enrollments of 2,000, 3,000, even 4,000 students.

Now educators, policymakers, and parents are joining the chorus of researchers who have long trumpeted the benefits of small schools. Studies show that small schools have higher attendance rates and lower dropout rates, their students have higher grade point averages, and students and teachers report greater satisfaction with the school experience.

 

You must be an ASCD member to view this content. Become a member today!

Already a member? Log in to read the full article.

Copyright © 2002 by Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

Requesting Permission

  • For photocopy, electronic and online access, and republication requests, go to the Copyright Clearance Center. Enter the periodical title within the "Get Permission" search field.
  • To translate this article, contact permissions@ascd.org
ASCD Express

Ideas from the Field

Subscribe to ASCD Express, our free e-mail newsletter, to have practical, actionable strategies and information delivered to your e-mail inbox twice a month.

Subscribe Now

More EL Resources

  • Contact EL
  • Reader's Guide
  • Buy EL
  • Advertise with EL
  • Renew your subscription

Tweets by ELmagazine

  • ASCD on Facebook (External Link)
  • ASCD on Twitter (External Link)
  • ASCD on Pinterest (External Link)
  • ASCD on Instagram (External Link)
  • ASCD on LinkedIn (External Link)
  • ASCD on Youtube (External Link)

About ASCD

  • Contact Us / Help
  • Permissions
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Sponsorship
  • Careers at ASCD
  • ASCD Job Ramp

Get Involved

  • Membership
  • Educator Advocates
  • Affiliates
  • Connected Communities
  • Student Chapters
  • Professional Interest Communities
  • InService Blog

Online Learning

  • ASCD Activate
  • PD Online Courses
  • PD In Focus
  • myTeachSource
  • Webinars
  • ASCD Streaming Video
ASCD Logo

1703 North Beauregard St.
Alexandria, VA 22311-1714

MISSION: ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

© 2019 ASCD. All Rights Reserved.