One size may not fit all, but a small school can undoubtedly offer many significant advantages to students, especially young teenagers. Being a teen in high school has its challenges and can be stressful for some. They are at the stage of their life where the academic study is more demanding, and they must deal with physical and emotional growth. This is the time when they need our guidance more than before, but it is also the time when communication between them and adults becomes less. This is also the time when the character building takes place.
The breakdown of communication and support will not happen when the schooling experience is more personalized to the need of an individual and where the student is not known as numbers but as an individual. Therefore, being in a place where your personal needs matter and where school experience goes beyond academic achievement can make much difference. A small school can offer this kind of support.
What research has found about small schools.
According to the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland, Oregon, “School Size, School Climate and the Student Performance” by Kathleen Cotton. Hundreds of studies have shown that students who attend small schools outperform those in large schools on every academic measure, from grade to test scores.
The teaching approach can be more flexible and suitable to the real needs of the students. As a result, small schools more often apply innovative teaching methods, such as team teaching, integrated curriculum, and multi-age grouping, all of which have been shown to improve student achievement. The key findings are impressive.
Find out more about why smallness can be the greatest.