According to research conducted by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, between the 9th and 12th grades more than 1 million students will leave school without earning a diploma. Nationwide a disproportionate number of these students are African American, Latino or from low-income families. The exception is in small high schools.
In small schools graduation rates for all students—regardless of race or socioeconomic background—are well above national and state averages. According to a 1998 study by R. Gladden, students attending smaller high schools are more likely to pass their courses, accumulate credits and attain a higher level of education than students who attend larger schools. Small schools eliminate gaps in achievement and graduation rates by supporting students on daily basis, rather than just intervening when a problem emerges. The combination of challenging curriculum, personalized learning and being known well by peers, teachers and adult mentors leads to higher levels of achievement and course completion, and ultimately results in more students “crossing the stage” at the annual graduation ceremony.
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