Class Size Analysis – Elementary Schools

Posted on September 8, 2015 by | 16 Comments

This analysis shows the reported average class size for each grade by elementary school. The average class size for the school (grades K-5) were ranked and ordered from smallest to largest. Comment on this post and let me know if these class sizes are not accurate in your school.
Legal Max Class Size – GaDOE rule 160-5-1-.08 (thanks for the link Kirk) sets the maximum number of students that may be taught by a teacher in a class.
Waiver Max Class Size – The GaDOE will grant flexibility to class size requirements. On Sept 14 the board will be voting on School Year 2015-16 Class Size Waiver.
2-Student Buffer This year there will be no “+2” student buffer for maximum class size. The maximum size that is set in the resolution will be the maximum class size and no buffer will be permissible.
District Class Size Avg – This indicates the average for the grade across the entire district.
Advanced Content Model – Students at Wadsworth and Kittridge are instructed through the Advanced Content Model of instruction.
Failing Elementary Schools – Many of our failing elementary schools as identified by the Opportunity School District have some of the lowest average class sizes: Toney (17 students), Meadowview (17 Students), Clifton (20 students), Cedar Grove (20 students)

Opportunity School District Candidates
Advanced Content Model
School Based (Principal) Decision
Monitoring and have been in contact with Principal

 
Average Class Size For Every Elementary School By Grade

Legal Max Class Size 18 21 21 21 28 28 28 28
Waiver Max Class Size 24 27 27 27 34 34 34 34
District Class Size Avg 19 22 22 22 25 25 25 26
Grade Level
Rank Grade Region K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AVG K-5
1 Wadsworth Magnet 5 16 16 20 16.00
2 Toney ES 5 14 21 18 15 20 15 17.17
3 Meadowview ES 5 18 17 13 17 19 23 17.83
4 Briar Vista ES 2 16 17 18 17 22 18 18.00
5 Sagamore Hills ES 2 16 18 21 18 16 26 19.17
6 Rowland ES 5 18 19 18 21 21 20 19.50
7 Clifton ES 5 17 17 22 21 23 18 19.67
8 Smoke Rise ES 2 17 21 24 21 17 18 19.67
9 Chapel Hill ES 4 16 22 20 20 20 22 20.00
10 Kittridge Magnet 1 20 20 20 20.00
11 Cedar Grove ES 5 22 19 21 17 22 21 20.33
12 Evansdale ES 2 17 19 18 23 21 25 20.50
13 Rock Chapel ES 3 24 17 23 19 18 22 20.50
14 Columbia ES 5 18 21 19 19 19 29 20.83
15 Vanderlyn ES 1 17 24 19 23 21 21 20.83
16 Avondale ES 2 19 18 20 25 23 21 21.00
17 Midvale ES 2 19 18 20 25 20 24 21.00
18 Oak Grove ES 2 20 21 21 22 24 18 21.00
19 Shadow Rock ES 3 18 21 19 23 24 21 21.00
20 Mcnair Discovery ES 5 20 19 22 24 21 21 21.17
21 Bob Mathis ES 4 16 18 22 23 25 24 21.33
22 Brockett ES 2 20 21 24 20 18 25 21.33
23 Kelley Lake ES 5 18 19 20 18 30 23 21.33
24 Dresden ES 1 15 22 20 21 26 25 21.50
25 Laurel Ridge ES 2 18 22 20 25 21 23 21.50
26 Snapfinger ES 5 15 22 23 19 24 26 21.50
27 Stone Mountain ES 3 16 21 20 22 26 24 21.50
28 Ashford Park ES 1 23 20 23 22 22 20 21.67
29 Livsey ES 2 19 17 19 21 33 21 21.67
Rank Grade Reg K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AVG K-5
30 Rainbow ES 4 24 24 22 19 23 18 21.67
31 Hambrick ES 3 17 21 22 19 26 26 21.83
32 Idlewood ES 2 16 25 23 19 23 25 21.83
33 Oakview ES 1 18 20 19 21 26 27 21.83
34 Robert Shaw ES 2 22 23 20 21 21 24 21.83
35 Allgood ES 3 19 23 24 21 23 23 22.17
36 Hawthorne ES 2 18 20 22 23 22 28 22.17
37 Kingsley ES 1 20 19 20 21 26 27 22.17
38 Briarlake ES 2 17 23 19 25 20 30 22.33
39 Dunaire ES 3 18 24 22 20 29 21 22.33
40 Jolly ES 3 18 21 26 21 23 25 22.33
41 DSA 2 20 23 22 22 25 23 26 25 22.50
42 Fernbank ES 2 23 22 20 21 24 25 22.50
43 Indian Creek ES 3 21 23 22 22 28 19 22.50
44 Chesnut ES 1 16 21 23 22 25 29 22.67
45 Henderson Mill ES 2 21 23 21 23 25 23 22.67
46 Rockbridge ES 3 18 21 21 24 25 27 22.67
47 Flat Shoals ES 4 18 22 26 21 23 27 22.83
48 Browns Mill ES 4 19 22 21 23 23 30 23.00
49 E.L. Miller ES 22 24 22 23 23 24 23.00
50 Redan ES 3 16 18 22 25 31 26 23.00
51 Fairington ES 4 20 23 23 24 27 22 23.17
52 Hightower ES 1 19 25 22 22 27 24 23.17
53 Stone Mill ES 3 17 25 25 20 27 25 23.17
54 Austin ES 1 20 24 23 22 25 26 23.33
55 Huntley Hills ES 1 19 21 20 26 28 26 23.33
56 E.L. Bouie ES 18 19 24 26 27 27 23.50
57 Woodridge ES 4 13 26 21 22 31 28 23.50
58 Mclendon ES 2 22 26 20 20 26 28 23.67
59 Montclair ES 1 21 24 19 24 26 28 23.67
Rank Grade Reg K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AVG K-5
60 Murphey Candler ES 4 19 25 22 21 31 24 23.67
61 Princeton ES 3 19 24 24 21 25 29 23.67
62 Canby Lane ES 5 19 22 25 24 25 28 23.83
63 Cary Reynolds ES 1 20 20 23 24 30 28 24.17
64 Stoneview ES 4 20 24 24 24 28 26 24.33
65 N. Harris ES 4 20 27 23 24 26 27 24.50
66 Pleasantdale ES 2 22 27 25 21 27 26 24.67
67 Marbut ES 4 25 24 20 24 29 27 24.83
68 Montgomery ES 1 18 24 22 26 32 27 24.83
69 Panola Way ES 4 22 25 23 23 29 28 25.00
70 Wynbrooke 3 24 26 24 23 25 29 25.17
71 Flat Rock ES 5 19 26 21 25 28 34 25.50
72 Dunwoody ES 1 23 25 26 27 27 26 25.67
73 Pine Ridge ES 3 20 23 26 24 28 34 25.83
74 Woodward ES 1 18 24 27 25 30 31 25.83
75 New Peachcrest ES 21 24 26 26 30 31 26.33
76 Oakcliff ES 5 24 21 25 27 29 32 26.33
Rank Grade Reg K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AVG K-5
Legal Max Class Size 18 21 21 21 28 28 28 28
Waiver Max Class Size 24 27 27 27 34 34 34 34
District Class Size Avg 19 22 22 22 25 25 25 26

Related Posts

DeKalb Class Size Analysis
Middle Schools – 2017
May 2, 2017 – Over the last 4 years DeKalb Schools has added over 1,000 school house employees. Middle school class sizes have gone down and are generally below the state max. This analysis shows the reported average class size for each grade by DeKalb middle school.

DeKalb Class Size Analysis
Elementary Schools – 2017
May 1, 2017 – This analysis shows the reported average class size for each grade by elementary school. The average class size for the school (grades K-5) were ranked and ordered from smallest to largest.

Class Size Analysis – Elementary Schools
September 8, 2015 – This analysis shows the reported average class size for each grade by elementary school. The average class size for the school (grades K-5) were ranked and ordered from smallest to largest. Comment on this post and let me know if these class sizes are not accurate in your school.

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16 responses to “Class Size Analysis – Elementary Schools”

  2. Weary Worker | September 8, 2015 at 9:33 PM |

    The Montgomery numbers for 5th grade are way off ,all three classes there are over 30. The 4th grade appears under reported as well.

  3. Stan Jester | September 9, 2015 at 9:20 AM |

    I’ll verify Montgomery 5th grade. I spot checked Vanderlyn 3rd Grade. There are 6 classes with 24, 24, 24, 23, 23, and 22 students. The chart says 23 and the exact average is 23.3.

  4. Lynn | September 9, 2015 at 11:10 AM |

    Has the system started moving teachers around? If not, these numbers (at some schools) could change drastically over the next few weeks. The Board needs to stop seeking waivers and reduce class size for all.
    Your chart reveals significant inequities, if one believes class size is important. (and I do)

  5. Stan Jester | September 9, 2015 at 2:05 PM |

    Hey Lynn,
    You hit upon some good questions: How did we get here and how do we move forward? Dr. Preston is preparing some answers to guide us through some of these things.
    I’ve color coded some schools and class sizes in an attempt to highlight a few things. You’ll notice the district is working closely with many of the schools ranked at the bottom of the class size list. Those schools have made a conscious decision to not split their classes yet. Some are having capacity issues and don’t have anywhere to put new classes. Some have a tight teacher community at their school and don’t want to rock the boat with bringing in a new teacher at this juncture from the leftover pool of teachers. Also, parents and students at this point are very attached to their teacher.
    Don’t forget that teachers, students, schools and communities are not widgets and moving teachers around is fraught with all sorts of problems. That being said, I would like to hire as many highly qualified teachers as possible and drive class size down across the district.

  6. September | September 9, 2015 at 8:34 PM |

    Have you considered hiring paraprofessionals to work in overcrowded classrooms? This would be very helpful for large classes where the school community is reluctant to hire a new teacher or break up classes that have been in session for more than a month. Classroom space is a problem at a lot of schools. There are plans for new buildings, but these are slow in coming. The reality is that a trailer that has been in use at a school for 20 years is not temporary. When student numbers are projected to be high for many years, a modular building would be a better choice. Normal size classrooms, better heat/air, and even restrooms would be nice.

  7. Stan Jester | September 10, 2015 at 9:13 AM |

    HR and principals are considering all options. Hopefully the plan is to hire the number of highly qualified parapros and teachers we need. If we hire too many parapros and not enough teachers this year, that makes the adjustment to the right number of teachers and parapros next year a challenge.

  8. Lynn | September 11, 2015 at 8:42 PM |

    Two of the 7 schools with the highest class size average in the system are among the lowest performing schools in the state. There is ample research that shows that poor children’s academic achievement is most impacted by class size. The reality is that a small amount of discomfort now by adding teachers is likely offset by greater academic achievement for those students.
    I suspect you are quoting the system’s answers, but if anyone at the central office is serious about helping those students achieve, class size is the first thing that should be addressed. (Sounds like some principals are lazy as well.)

  9. teachermom | September 13, 2015 at 6:35 PM |

    I agree Lynn. We need to quit relying on class size waivers. Why don’t we just eliminate them? They need to get back to current DOE (not waived) legal limits in ALL schools. We can afford to do this and will see improvement in student achievement. There is no viable argument not to.

  10. Stan Jester | September 13, 2015 at 10:07 PM |

    I would say small class sizes are a necessary but not sufficient condition for adequate academic achievement for our most vulnerable children.
    These numbers were reported by the district administration and assume no teacher vacancies. As of this past Friday, there were 85 reported teacher vacancies.
    I don’t see a cogent argument for needing class size or 65% rule waivers. The district is collecting $110 million more in taxes annually than it did just a few years ago and we are somehow still under some economic hardship. Last year the administration didn’t spend the money on instruction it was supposed to and shorted instruction by $9.7 million.

  11. Stan Jester | September 13, 2015 at 10:13 PM |

    Weary Worker,
    Montgomery 5th grade class reportedly has 3 teachers and 81 Students (All Students including Special Education students that may or may not stay in the classroom the entire time). That makes for a 27 class size average. I am told the three classes are of sizes 25, 27 and 29 due to some uneven withdrawals from school.

  12. Paula | September 15, 2015 at 7:58 AM |

    Stan – thanks to you and Marshall Orson for trying to do what was right at yesterday’s BOE meetings.

  13. Anonymous | September 15, 2015 at 12:50 PM |

    Amen to what Paula said! I appreciate your advocacy for the students and teachers. I hope you don’t lose hope, as I have.

  15. Dmom | September 16, 2015 at 11:16 AM |

    In regards to Dunwoody elementary schools, why does Dunwoody ES have to have higher class sizes than the other schools (Chestnut, Vanderlyn, Kingsly, Austin) by an ~ average of 3?
    They unfortunately are at the bottom of this list whereas Vanderlyn is closer to the top of the list (smaller class size). The others fall in the middle.

  16. Stan Jester | September 16, 2015 at 11:24 AM |

    DMom,
    That question is best answered by the school council and the principal who have the autonomy, to some extent, to make those decisions. I don’t speak for the principal or school council, but DES is at 100% capacity and currently has no trailers. Vanderlyn has 4th grade and 5th grade out in trailers.