Some simply group cohorts of students together while maintaining a symbolic and administrative identification with the larger school. Students follow a separate education program, have their own faculty, and identify with their subschool unit. Without full implementation, many of the benefits of small-scale schooling, such as establishing community and symbolic identity, cannot be realized. Staff and student support is also important, and the strengths or weaknesses of a particular plan may vary over the years with personnel changes. Obtaining the support of the superintendent, school board, and school principal is also essential.
Evidence related to educational achievement is less clear.
Among the disadvantages, research suggests this model can sometimes create divisiveness in schools because it tends to realign organizational structures and fracture preexisting relationships. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago. School size, school climate, and student performance. Affective and social benefits of small-scale schooling. School size and student outcomes.