What are the real facts about class
size
in the Millburn Schools for the 2005–2006 school year?
The Board of Education claims overcrowded
classrooms of 30 or more when the true average classroom
sizes are a very respectable 20 or below.
The Board of Education issued a list of unsupported
outcomes about class size to defend its $40.2+ bond
referendum. The Superintendent of Schools has said
that if the referendum does not pass then the district
will experience: average class sizes of 30 and above
at the High School, massive overcrowding of classrooms
at the Middle School, and classes of 25 students and
above at the elementary schools. These suggested outcomes
imply that we need to overbuild our schools, rather
than develop other more reasonable plans to address
student population cycle patterns. The truth is the
high school has an average classroom size of only 19
and the middle school has an average classroom size
of 20.
Our non-profit, information based
organization carefully examined the facts.
We LoveMillburn.com formed a specific research task
force to examine the current class size distribution
in our schools. This task force did the research in
direct response to the suggested threat that any anticipated
increase in student population could not be accommodated
in our existing school buildings. This threat of overpopulated
classrooms has been one of the Board of Education's
most insistent mantras.
Now here are the facts. Are we experiencing
overcrowding in our classrooms?
According
to our analysis of classroom size distribution, the
Millburn schools are well managed and leave room
for population growth.
The overall average
class size at the High School is 19. Average class
size by "level" is:
18 in Advanced Placement classes, 20 in Accelerated
classes, 19 in College Prep A classes, 16 in College
Prep B classes, and 15 in the few combined level classes.
Average class size by department is: 21 in English,
20 in History, 20 in Math, 19 in Science, 17 in World
Languages, and 16 in the combined Fine & Related
Arts, Business, and Music categories. (See
Appendix I, below)
How does this compare to the Middle School? At the
Middle School overall average class size is 20. Average
class size by subject is: 20 in Language Arts, 20 in
Math, 21 in Science, 21 in Social Studies, 19 in World
Languages, and 21 in the cycle courses. (See
Appendix II, below)
Where are those large classes everyone keeps talking
about?
There are some larger classes in the district,
defined here as 25 and over in enrollment. At the Middle
School
this occurs in 11 sections representing 3.7% of the
total sections at that school. At the High School,
using double weighting for full year classes to balance
with 1/2 year classes, this occurs in 117 sections
representing 14.2% of the total sections at that school.
Balancing these larger classes are section sizes of
less than 15 students. At the Middle School there are
5 sections of under 15 students, or 1.7% of the total
number of sections. At the High School there are 152
sections of under 15 students, or 18.4% of the total
sections. (See Appendix III, below)
Also of interest is that
many High School classes of 25 and over are still within
the designated maximum
for the class section. Of over 800 class sections running
this school year at the High School, only 5.3% are
running over their maximum and at least 25% of these
are electives.
What about the distribution in between?
In reviewing
the statistics for class sizes at the secondary level
for the 15-19 and 20-24 student categories,
there is a marked difference between the Middle and
High Schools. At the Middle School 34.3% of all class
sections fall in the 15-19 students category, leaving
60.3% in the 20-24 category. At the High School the
15-19 students category represents 35.2% of all sections
and the 20-24 student category represents 32.2% of
all sections. If grade configuration changes are to
be considered in the district, this is an area worthy
of review.
What about population distribution at the elementary
level?
At the elementary schools the class
sizes indicate that 37.4% of all sections are in the
15-19 students
category, with 62.6% in the 20-24 students category.
Upon looking more closely at the elementary schools,
class size distribution assumptions can be made that
will help calculate the open seats available at these
schools for this current school year without changing
the number of class sections. Using as a guide a kindergarten
class population of 20 and a grades 1-5 class population
of 23, there appear to be 268 available seats in our
current elementary school operation. (See
Appendix IV, below)
What is of great concern is that individual elementary
schools follow different protocol for determining class
size. The 3rd and 4th grades at Hartshorn School and
the 3rd grade at Deerfield School are each 92 students
in 4 sections. But at the Glenwood School, the 2nd
grade class of 91 is in 5 sections.
The facts are the facts.
WeLoveMillburn believes that the structure of
certain operations of the district require some rethinking
in order to optimize the use of our current facilities.
But we also believe that individual class size is not
the issue.
Read the attached appendices for all the
facts and then decide for yourself.
The more you know, the more you'll vote
NO December 13th.
WeLoveMillburn.com
October 23, 2005
