School security experts in 1999 were asked by the U.S. Department of Education for suggestions in how to reduce crime and violence in the nation's schools. Rather than gun control or police on the premises, the experts argued for reducing the size of the nation's schools. Third, studies have shown that in small schools parents are more likely to volunteer at the school. This is due, in part, to the fact that small, local schools are closer to home. It is also important to note that the greater the degree of local control, the more likely community members are to vote for additional spending for education.
Smaller schools do have higher per pupil cost.
However, if one factors in their much higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates, they cost less per graduate. A study by the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy found that students are four times more likely to walk to schools built before 1983 than to newer, larger, more remote schools. The cost of building and maintaining smaller neighborhood-based schools can be absorbed if more efforts are made to provide for multiple uses of school campuses. The study found that nine out of ten voters want after-school programs for youth. Two to one, voters prefer these programs to be located at schools, but they also want schools and community organizations to work together.