The Untapped Power of Schools to Improve the Health of Teens

School SizeStudents in smaller schools feel moreconnected to school, on average, thanstudents in larger schools. This findingcontributes to the mounting evidencethat very large schools are not good forengaging kids in school.The effect of school size onconnectedness is not the same as theeffect of school size on academicachievement. The optimal school size forincreasing school connectedness is under600 students. In small schools, teachersand school leaders can personallyconnect with most students, animpossible feat in a large school.On the other hand, studies onlearning report that the optimal highschool size for high academic achievementis between 600 and 1,200 students.Schools of this size have the capacity tooffer a wide variety of courses andcurricula. Nonetheless, the findingssupport the growing evidence that verylarge schools, those over 1,200, are notgood environments for adolescents eithereducationally or socially.Percent of students who are Latino.Percent of students from two-parent families.Teacher QualificationsPercent of teachers in their first year of teaching at the school.Percent of teachers with a Master’s degree.Discipline PoliciesMeasuring School EnvironmentDemographic CompositionStudents receive out-of-school suspension or expulsion the firsttime they are caught cheating (yes/no). A scale was createdbased on administrator responses to ten questions. “In yourschool, what happens to a student who is caught:Possessing alcohol?Drinking alcohol?Possessing an illegal drug?Using an illegal drug?Destroying school property?The responses ranges from “1” (no policy) to “7” (expulsion).Harsh discipline policies were defined as 6.5 or higher.Structural School CharacteristicsVerbally abusing a teacher?Fighting?Injuring another student?Carrying a weapon?Injury to a teacher?”School size measured in 100s; class size; public school(yes/no); urban, rural or suburban.Extracurricular Activities/Classroom ManagementPercent of students who do not participate in extracurricularactivities, based on a list of activities including sports, academicclubs, music, newspaper, and yearbook.Classroom management is the school average of students’responses to four questions. “Since you started school thisyear, how often have you had trouble:Getting along with teachers? Paying attention in school?Getting your homework done? Getting along with other students?”Responses ranged from “never” (0) to “everyday” (4).11