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The Chalkboard: Packed Like Sardines

It turns out that not only geography, but also grade level, is a factor in determining how many kids are crammed into one classroom.

Good Is
By Good IsMay 29, 2010
Good Is
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There are nearly 50 million students enrolled in K-12 public schools. It turns out that not only geography, but also grade level, is a factor in determining how many kids are crammed into one classroom. Nationwide, average class sizes ranged from a high of 23 students in Utah to a low of 11 students in Vermont. And while on average, an elementary school classroom squeezes 20 kids into a room, by the time secondary school rolls around, that number has decreased to about a dozen. When it comes to class size, is smaller really better? Or can the same educational gains be attained with greater numbers of students? So far, studies have shown mixed results. While we wait for more definitive answers, here's how the different states match up.

A collaboration between GOOD and Design Language.

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