This paper reports the results of an investigation into the relationship between school size and achievement. The study examined the impact of school size on mathematics achievement in Dutch, Swedish, and American secondary education and on science achievement in the Netherlands. The following research questions were explored: (1) Is school size…

Researchers, consulting professionals, and advocating agencies agree that school facility design is one essential component to a safe and successful school. This document addresses design-related concepts that can positively affect school climate and order. It describes and provides facility planning guidelines for crime prevention through…

This doctoral dissertation reports on a study that examined the perceptions of the relative use by academic deans of six primary administrative control mechanisms. The effects of four known determinants of organizational control use were gathered from a sample composed of both faculty and administration from four public postsecondary institutions.…

The existing knowledge of the school environment is reviewed in this book, with a focus on its impact on educational effectiveness and student achievement. Chapter 1 examines how the composition of educational groups affect learning; chapter 2 focuses on the learning climate and cultures--the norms and values that characterize learning…

Research generally points to a negative relationship between school or district size and student achievement. When all else is held equal (particularly community or individual socioeconomic status), comparisons of schools and districts based on differences in enrollment generally favor smaller units. A recent study found that small elementary…

The idea of year-round education (YRE) is not a new one. As early as 1912 there are records of YRE programs implemented in communities. As a result of the increasing enrollment in schools and the overcrowding many classrooms are experiencing, YRE has become an attractive alternative to the traditional 9-month schedule. Air conditioning costs and…

A survey of superintendents and principals in 91 percent of South Dakota school districts examined the extent and nature of nontraditional funding acquired by high schools, and administrator attitudes toward this funding. Sources of funding were categorized as donor sources (cash or other donations from individuals or organizations); enterprise…

Educational philosophy, land economics, cost benefit, environmental strategy, and decentralization reinforce the evolution of the small school as the educational shape of today. (Author/DW)

Progress reports for each school operated by the Columbus Public Schools during the 1988-89 school year are compiled. The reports have been compiled pursuant to section 3313.94 Ohio Revised Code, and standards adapted by the State Board of Education. The reports are grouped according to school levels: senior high schools, metropolitan education…

This digest presents recent findings about effective instructional practices for classroom teachers in small schools. In terms of instruction, small schools have two characteristics: a broader scope of teacher responsibilities and more instructional levels per classroom. Teachers in small schools have the opportunity to develop the student as a…

This report contains statistical data on all the secondary schools and programs in the Portland (Oregon) Public School District to provide comparable background information. Part I compares the 10 major high schools for the following selected variables: (1) enrollment, including current, projected, and optimum figures; (2) minority enrollment; (3)…

Falcon Beach School is a small school experiencing declining school enrollment and increasing operational costs. In February, 1987, Falcon Beach School was announced as a candidate for closure. The Planning and Research Branch of Manitoba Education conducted an economic and social analysis of the school operations. This research report provides…

This task force report examines enrollment trends, school building utilization, school size, and school cost savings in the Madison, Wisconsin, elementary schools. Although the task force's study was confined to elementary schools, many of its findings and recommendations are applicable to middle and high schools as well. Enrollments in many…

Schools with more targets to meet under NCLB were far more likely to be branded as in need of improvement. Some critics of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) have argued that large schools and schools with a diverse student population are penalized by the law's provisions. School performance results from 2004 in Philadelphia appear to…