Size is not an issue in high school classes, where teachers mostly lecture to students. Computers make the difference. Almost all 1,700 schools surveyed had computers, so technology alone doesn't guarantee a better education. Students gain most from computers when they're taught to use them as a tool for gathering information or solving a problem. When computers are merely games, or rote learning machines, they're not as effective.
Small schools are superior.
The list of good schools includes both large and small high schools. But large schools can offer more classes and activities. Successful schools expect all students to aim high, not just the cream of the crop. Mentors for students. At an urban Detroit public magnet school serving mostly low-income students, a club organized by some football players has academic achievement at its core.