Advantages of Small Classes

Is it worth putting your child in a private elementary school so that the class sizes are smaller? Does it really make a difference? My son's third-grade class will have 30 students next year. -- Need to Know
Answer: Before moving your child to a private school, do check out that there is a significant difference in the size of the class he will be in between the public and private schools. Lower class size is not always the old adage that less is more. For example, research tends to show that reducing class size from 35 to 25 doesn't show significant gains in student achievement. You do need to be aware that there is no single magical number below which class size suddenly produces a beneficial effect. However, it is fairly clear that class size must get somewhere below 20 in order to make a real difference.
In recent years, several states have reduced class size, especially in the primary grades. It has been shown that if young children in kindergarten through third grade can be in classes ranging in size from 15 to no more than 20, there is definitely more growth in their reading levels compared to students in the same grades who have 25 or more in their classes. Additional studies also found that this holds true up through eighth grade when class sizes are smaller.
Keep in mind that reducing class size changes the classroom environment. The classroom atmosphere is usually friendlier. Students have more opportunity to speak in class. There are fewer students to distract each other. The noise level in the classroom is lower. Plus, each student is able to receive a larger portion of the teacher's instructional time.
Teachers like teaching smaller classes. They enjoy an increased flexibility in using different instructional approaches and assignments. And they can devote a larger amount of time to working with each of their student's parents.