The research is clear—school size makes a difference. Large, impersonal high schools, which were originally designed to prepare a handful of young people for college and the majority for low-skill jobs, are obsolete. Technology and a competitive global economy have created the need for all young people to have high skills and a college education to succeed.

	Small schools provide a personalized learning environment where students work on complex projects, study multidisciplinary topics, meet high expectations, and effectively demonstrate what they know and can do.

Size alone does not make a school good. High quality small schools have high standards for all students, a rigorous curriculum and strategies to help students see the practical applications of what they are learning. Small schools provide a personalized learning environment where students work on complex projects, study multidisciplinary topics, meet high expectations, and effectively demonstrate what they know and can do. Students in small schools are also more engaged in the life of the school—they participate in more extracurricular activities and report feeling a part of shaping a positive school culture. The opportunity to help create a powerful teaching and learning environment also has strong effects on teachers in small schools, who express more positive attitudes towards their work than their colleagues in large schools.

There is a growing body of evidence in support of small schools:

• Student achievement. Students in small schools have higher grade point averages and perform better on standardized tests.
  
  
• Graduation rates. Students in small schools are less likely to dropout and more likely to graduate.
  
  
• College readiness. Students in small schools, regardless of their race or family income, are more likely to go to college.
  
  
• Equity. Small schools reduce the achievement gap by creating an environment where all students—not just some—gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue their dreams.
  
  
• Cost effectiveness. Although the cost per student may be higher in a small school, the cost per graduate is lower.
  
  
• Safety. Small schools are safer places to learn with dramatically fewer violent crimes, fights and weapons incidents than large schools.