Creating Small Schools

A Handbook for Raising Equity and Achievement

Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to school size. Although comprehensive high schools are still the norm, many educators are turning to the idea of small schools (typically, high schools) as a way to personalize the educational experience for all students and raise achievement. Small high schools replace the incoherency a comprehensive high school's curriculum with rigorous course, small classes, and challenging college-prep coursework. and the small scale of these schools makes personalized relationships between faculty and students possible-key to keeping dropout rates low and expectations high. Small schools or small learning communities have many benefits for students, parents, and staff, and there has been much research and foundation interest in small schools. The Center for Collaborative Education (CCE) has worked on numerous small school projects throughout New England and has developed a national reputation. In this book the CCE have transformed their "New England Small Schools Network Planning Manual" into a hands-on resource that educators anywhere can use as a guide for planning a small school.