Focus on Missouri

 

 

Student Engagement:

The Value of Small Schools in Missouri

 

National research[1] shows that:

1)       Small schools contribute to greater involvement of students

2)       Dropout rates are lower and graduation rates are higher in small schools

3)       Students in small schools exhibit less disruptive behavior

Text Box: Missouri-specific research

 

 

Small and Rural Schools in Missouri:

<      There are 294 rural[2] K-12 districts in Missouri and 177 small[3] K-12 districts, compared to 270 large K-12 districts and 153 non-rural K-12 districts

<      All rural K-12 districts are not small, but nearly all small K-12 districts are rural

 

An analysis of 2002-03 data reported by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shows that:

 

Dropout and Graduation Rates

<      Small and rural schools have lower dropout rates

 

 

In Small             K-12 Districts

In Rural             K-12 Districts

In Large              K-12 Districts

In Non-Rural      K-12 Districts

2002-03 Dropout Rate

2.1 %

2.4 %

3.0 %

3.1 %

2001-02 Dropout Rate

2.1 %

2.5 %

3.4 %

3.5 %

2000-01 Dropout Rate

2.8 %

3.1 %

4.0 %

4.3 %

 

<      Small and rural schools have higher graduation rates

 

 

In Small K-12 Districts

In Rural K-12 Districts

In Large K-12 Districts

In Non-Rural K-12 Districts

2002-03 Graduation Rate

91.3 %

89.6%

85.6 %

84.6 %

2001-02 Graduation Rate

89.9 %

88.2 %

84.2 %

83.2 %

2000-01 Graduation Rate

88.3 %

87.1 %

83.6 %

82.3 %

 

 

 

 

 

Disciplinary Incidents

<      Small and rural schools have far fewer disciplinary problems in every category recorded, including incidents involving drugs, violence, and weapons.

<      Small and rural schools also have fewer suspensions and expulsions

               

 

In Small        

 K-12 Districts

In Rural        

 K-12 Districts

In Large        

 K-12 Districts

In Non-Rural 

K-12 Districts

Average Number of Disciplinary Incidents[4]

 

3.3

 

7.2

 

48.4

 

75.4

Average Number of Drug Incidents

 

2.0

 

3.9

 

11.3

 

15.2

Average Number of Violent Incidents

 

2.4

 

2.6

 

15.0

 

20.6

Average Number of Weapons Incidents

 

1.3

 

1.6

 

4.4

 

5.2

Average Number of In-School Suspensions

 

5.3

 

3.8

 

10.4

 

13.2

Average Number of Out-of-School Suspensions

 

3.3

 

6.8

 

44.2

 

68.6

Average Number of Expulsions

 

1.0

 

1.7

 

2.4

 

2.5

 



[1] A summary of national research on student engagement can be found in the MARE document “The Value of Small Schools in Missouri:  A Call to Informed Action”, available at http://moare.com

[2] Rural schools are those with NCES Locale Codes of 7-8 (Rural, in towns under 2500 or in the open country.

[3] For purposes of this analysis, small districts are defined as those under 600 enrollment, the approximate median MO enrollment

[4] Disciplinary incidents are reported in which a student is removed from the traditional classroom setting