Presentation on the social and educational costs of large schools made by Dr. Wendy Craig at Limestone District School Board Central PARC meeting May 15, 2012

1. Dr. Wendy Craig,
Department of Psychology,
Queen’s University

2.  Limestone’s mission “Our Students, Our
Future”
 There are many ways to count dollars
◦ Monetary Costs
◦ Social Costs
◦ Long term prevention costs
 Decisions now influence the future society
and our future generation of citizens.
 Large schools have
individual, social, psychological, and socio-
economic costs.

3.  Success for Students
◦ Academic
◦ Social
◦ Through community partnerships and engagement
 Strong People, Strong Economy
◦ Future generation of citizens
 Better Health
◦ Whole person approach
(physical, academic, mental, social)
 Safer Communities

4.  Prior to 2001 meta analysis revealed school size
matters academically.
 Small and mid size schools (<1000 students)
performed better on standardized academic
tests.
 Data 2001- present less conclusive with half the
studies favouring small and mid size schools and
half favouring large schools (>2000 students).
 However, vulnerable students in large schools
consistently have worse outcomes.
BUT ACADEMIC HEALTH IS ONLY PART OF THE
PICTURE

5.  Social and emotional factors considerably impact student
performance and large schools compared to small and mid
size have:
X Decreased connectedness to school
X Higher drop out rate and less school completion
X Increased absenteeism
X Increased delinquency and violence
X Increased disciplinary problems
X Less stable relationships with educators
X Less connectedness to peers
X Less stable relationships with teachers and peers
X Less parent involvement
X Less parental satisfaction
X Decreased satisfaction among teachers
X Decreased extracurricular engagement (important for vulnerable
students)

6.  Adolescent participation in school activities is
important as fosters:
◦ Higher self-esteem
◦ Greater academic achievement
◦ Higher postsecondary educational aspirations
 Through relationships and connectedness
improved social, economic, mental, and
wellbeing in our students, in our future
generation.
 Lays groundwork for future adult participation
and social and economic success.
Limestone Mission: Our students, our future

7. Ministry’s Priorities Evidence Based Solutions
Success for Students Small to Mid Schools
Academic
Social
Community Partnerships Small to Mid Size Schools
Strong People, Strong Economy Small to Mid Size Schools
Better Health Small to Mid Size Schools
Safer Communities Small to Mid size Schools

8.  Make decisions based on:
◦ EVIDENCE
◦ Ontario Ministry of Education’s Priorities
◦ Limestone School District’s Mission
◦ Economic costs involve monetary costs, but more
important social, mental, physical, and prevention costs.
◦ WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN and STUDENTS
◦ Save all three schools, as each has unique offerings
supported by the research.
◦ Many creative solutions that meet these requirements
put forth tonight.