During the past decade, hundreds of high schools across the nation engaged in large-scale education reform by adopting the small schools model. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation invested $2 billion to create new, mostly urban small high schools. Results were mixed and the Gates Foundation eventually distanced itself from the small schools movement.
Recently, however, a Gates-funded study of small public high schools of choice in New York City revealed significantly improved academic achievement and graduation outcomes for an initial cohort of disadvantaged students. The study, Transforming the High School Experience: How New York City's New Small Schools Are Boosting Student Achievement and Graduation Rates, was conducted by MDRC, an education and social policy research organization.
Here in Oregon, two new reports show tangible gains in post-secondary enrollment, achievement, attendance and high school graduation for students participating in the Oregon Small Schools Initiative. In addition, new research into the cost of small schools concludes they may be even more cost-effective than larger, comprehensive high schools in terms of expenses involved to reach desired outcomes, such as the cost per high school graduate.
ECONorthwest's Oregon Small Schools Initiative Evaluation, Quanitative Analysis 2004-2009 tracks student achievement, attendance, drop-out rates, graduation rates, and college-going rates. Since 2004-05, the longest-established schools in the initiative have increased the share of graduates enrolling at college by ten percent, doubled the share of their students meeting state math and reading benchmarks, reduced dropout rates by more than 25 percent and increased high school graduation by 15 percentage points.
The initiative schools' demonstrated success in achieving important student outcomes is especially significant given that 53% of students at initiative schools come from low-income households, compared to 42% for the state as a whole.
The Oregon Small Schools Initiative officially concluded in June 2010. Twenty-two participating schools in Central Point, Eugene, Klamath Falls, McMinnville, Medford, Newberg, Portland, Springfield and Woodburn will continue receiving ongoing support through coaching and professional development workshops through the Oregon Small Schools Network. E3 will track the schools' performance for an additional three years to contribute to the growing body of national research about the small schools model.
Learn more about the Oregon Small Schools Initiative at: http://www.e3smallschools.org
Do you have experience with the Oregon Small Schools Initiative? What impact do you think school size can have on student achievement? Share your perspective on ChalkBloggers.
