Small schools, on the other hand, offer more personal, individualized education. They tend to provide more attention to student needs and to hold students to higher academic expectations. Researchers in New Jersey and Chicago have found that aside from socioeconomic status, small school size is the factor most consistently related to higher grades and test scores, fewer suspensions and dropouts, and better rates of employment and college attendance after graduation. Studies show that both students and teachers in small schools around the country enjoy a greater sense of belonging. Teachers have more time for each student, so they can better address a child's strengths and weaknesses.
Students become active learners, ready to tackle complex problems and challenging coursework.
Teachers in small schools tend to have more decision-making power and more resources for professional development. They are encouraged to work collaboratively and to use educational approaches that fit the particular student body, paving the way for innovative instruction. Small schools also benefit parents, who tend to become more involved in the school community and their children's learning. Often, the same group of students and teachers spends several years together in these small, personal learning environments. In many large cities, the small schools movement is just beginning to get off the ground.