AERA Study: Smaller Classes Lead to Student Gains

Smaller class sizes can produce lasting gains, particularly for minority and low-income students, says a report from the American Educational Research Association (AERA). 

"Class Size: Counting Students Can Count" ( PDF, 4 pp.), in AERA's Fall 2003 Research Points, synthesizes current research on class size and confirms the link between smaller classes and improved student achievement. The report describes ways to pay for class size reduction efforts in strained financial times.

The greatest impact on student performance is seen by reducing class sizes early, in the first two years of school, the report says.

For minority students and students in inner-city schools, smaller classes can reduce the achievement gap and lead to fewer students dropping out or being held back, fewer disciplinary actions, and more students taking college entrance exams.

For maximum effect, the report says, class size reduction efforts should meet five conditions:

• Start in kindergarten or first grade; early intervention is key.
• The ideal number of students in a class is 13 to 17.
• If resources are scarce, target at-risk students first.
• To maintain intensity, students should experience small classes all day, every day.
• Small classes should last at least two years, and three to four years for the longest-lasting benefits.