The Small Schools Movement: Implications for Health Education

Abstract

Approximately 70% of American high schools enroll 1000 or more students each, while almost one half of high schools enroll more than 1500 students each. A growing body of evidence, however, is showing that small schools, especially small secondary schools, result in positive benefits for students, families, and communities that go beyond letter grades. Investigators have found that smaller high schools result in greater academic achievement, higher faculty morale, less student misbehavior, and greater family satisfaction. Recommended strategies to create a more personalized high school experience and improve performance include creating smaller "schools" within large schools, instituting career academies, reworking the school day, and employing teacher advisory systems. This article describes the prominent elements of effective small schools with implications for a strengthened "presence" of the coordinated school health program at the high school level.

Relevance, Rigor, and Relationships: Student Perceptions Following Participation in an Integrated Experiential Zoo-Based Academic High School Science Program

“…The development of communities in schools gives administrators, teachers, and students the ability to share ideas and leadership roles forming authentic relationships, wanting to better know oneself and community members, and being receptive to new ideas (Cleary & English, 2005;Sergiovanni, 1994). The basic human need is to belong and feel part of a group that works towards common goals, common interests, shared values, conceptions, and ideas (Graves, 1992;Hugh et al, 2006;Manning & Saddlemire, 1996;Sergiovanni, 1994).…”

“…The philosophy behind small learning communities, schools-within-schools, or career academies is to develop relationships between the students and teachers, increase rigor, and increase relevance (Cleary & English, 2005;Conley, 2001). Rigor, relevance, and relationships reform efforts focus on raising academic standards, connecting student studies to their lives outside of school, and preparing students for the ever-changing global workforce.…”

“…Positive learning environments where educators know their students, develop a concern for their wellbeing, and provide a curriculum that is both rigorous and relevant remain the keys to motivating adolescents (Cleary & English, 2005;Keefe, Kelley, & Miller, 1985;Quint, 2006). To create positive learning environments, the school and the community must establish a new culture of personalized learning where students feel confident to become effective team players and intellectual decisionmakers (Conley, 2001;Dryer, 1996;Hugh, Taylor, Chin, & Hutchinson, 2006;Mackin, 1996).…”

“…The rational for establishing small learning communities is to satisfy the basic human need to feel part of a group that works towards a common goal, common interests, shared values, and ideas, for schools and classrooms to be interdependent, cooperative communities where students and teachers learn and work in more comfortable and inspiring environments (Cleary & English, 2005;Dryer, 1996;Graves, 1992;Manning & Saddlemire, 1996;Sergiovanni, 1994). The development of communities in schools give administrators, teachers and students the ability to share ideas and leadership roles forming authentic relationships, wanting to better know oneself and community members, and being receptive to new ideas (Dryer, 1996;Keefe et al, 1985;Sergiovanni, 1994).…”

“…When establishing small learning communities, school leaders need to make sure professional learning communities are established where the focus is on what will successfully support every student in their high school experience, provide every student with meaningful adult relationships, and insure a personalized learning experience where students are able to see the relevance in their learning task (Cleary & English, 2005; National Association of Secondary School Principals, 2005). It is very important that these key points are well established in order for the school climate to become successful.…”