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St. Augustine Record

Huge classes hurt learning

By PAULETTE PERHACH
paulette.perhach@staugustinerecord.com

(July 31, 2005) Students in Florida learn in the some of the largest schools in the country, and that could be detrimental to their education, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Florida had the highest average enrollment in all levels of public education, according to research on the 2001-2002 school year.

The national average for high school enrollment stood at 753, and Florida more than doubled it at 1,565.

This year, the projected average enrollment in St. Johns county high schools is 1,871.

"Kids just get lost," said Catherine Emihovich, professor and dean at the University of Florida's College of Education.

"Part of the problem is that so many kids are coming to school without a strong family structure," she said. "They go to a huge high school, and who's looking out for them?"

Research suggests that an effective size for secondary schools is 400 to 800 students.

About 70 percent of American high school students attend a school of 1,000 students or more. Nearly 50 percent attend school or 1,500 or more. Some schools are reaching all-time highs of 4,000 to 5,000 students.

Academies and other forms of "schools within a school" are the answer for many of the problems of large schools.

" When you get in a big high school, sometimes you lose that personal connection," said Superintendent of Schools Joseph Joyner. "One of the greatest benefits of academies is building that small learning community so that kids can feel connected."

Smaller learning communities can take the form of an accelerated learning program, such as the International Baccalaureate Program, a career academy, or an academy based on grade level.

"It's something all the principals have embraced as where we need to go in the area of high school reform," said Joyner.

The 2002 No Child Left Behind Act includes a Smaller Learning Communities Program that grants money to schools with more than 1,000 to help them create smaller learning environments.

So far, St. Johns County schools are operating their new academies within existing funds.

Studies have shown that the size of a student's learning environment greatly affects his or her experience.

When the size of the environment is reduced, the benefits become apparent within a year or two.

Those include a greater sense of belonging and satisfaction with the school, fewer discipline problems, a decrease in incidences in of alcohol and tobacco abuse, and an improvement in attendance.

Students in smaller learning environments are also more likely to stay in school, graduate and enroll in a postsecondary school, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

At Bartram Trail High School, the administration started a ninth grade academy. The freshmen have their own area of campus, with their own media center, guidance counselor and assistant principal. Their classes are also mostly with their peers.

"It gives them a sense of belonging and a feeling of closeness in a big school," said Tim Forson, principal to the 2,500 students at the school. "The students get to know each other, and they have a common group of teachers who get to know the students and their goals, strengths and weaknesses."

In future years, Superintendent Joyner said he envisions all students participating in the academy programs.

"No one wants to pay the money to build more schools. Even if they did, I don't know that that would be the best solution," said Joyner. "This is the best of both worlds."