According to an October study from researchers at MIT and Duke, the central focus of Mayor Bloomberg’s education plan – smaller schools – is showing significantly positive results.
Researchers found, from a sample of 150 small high schools created by the Bloomberg administration between 2003-2008, students who attended small high schools were 9 percent more likely to graduate and 7 percent more likely to attend college, as opposed to students who attend larger city high schools.
While these smaller schools offer fewer courses, classroom engagement is higher and the students are more closely monitored. Class numbers in these smaller schools are usually capped at 100 students per grade.