As for student achievement, small schools get results at least equal to, and in many cases superior to, big schools. In Alaska, nearly 200 schools have fewer than 100 students. In Montana, over half of the schools have 70 or fewer students. In Oregon, over 500 schools have fewer than 300 students. And about 11 percent of those schools have fewer than 125 students.
Researchers point to a number of reasons for the success of small schools.
For one thing, students are less likely to be overlooked or isolated in small schools. And people in small schools come to know and care about each other to a greater degree than would be possible in much larger schools. This caring and inclusive environment leads to a greater sense of personal effectiveness, researchers found. Students tend to take on responsibility when classes are smaller. Furthermore, scheduling is more flexible than in larger schools.