School size and outcomes - Abstracts - Brief Article

School Administrator, August, 2002

New research on the relationships between school size and a variety of outcomes found that as school size increased, the average achievement among schools enrolling larger proportions of economically disadvantaged students suffered.

Titled "High School Size, Achievement Equity, and Cost: Robust Interaction Effects and Tentative Results," the study was published by the Education Policy Analysis Archives. Researchers were Robert Bickel, Craig Howley, Tony Williams and Catherine Glascock.

After analyzing data from 1,001 Texas high schools, the authors suggest that the K-12 unit school configuration in Texas is both educationally sound and cost effective.

Also presumed was that operating large consolidated schools saved money and met the developmental needs of certain age groupings.

The study's findings are available at epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v9n40.html.