The Center for Rural Affairs turned back timethis week to one of their favorite posts. The blog entry, dating from the year 2000, was entitled “The Case for Small Schools,” and the essay’s findings are still relevant 15 years later. Some of the important points from the article:
- Federal data showed big schools (1,000 students or more) had higher incidents of all types of crimes (violent and non-violent) than did small schools (less than 300 students).
- Small schools had a significantly greater ability to graduate students than did large schools.
- A review of numerous studies found that extracurricular participation rates were higher and more varied in small schools than in large schools, and that alienation from the school environment was lower in small schools.
- Schools in rural communities had a significant economic effect on their towns. The loss of a school led to declines in retail sales and labor supplies in communities.
You can download the entire “Case for Small Schools,” entry here.