NYC Public School Parents: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years

NYC Public School Parents: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years:

Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years

by Leonie Haimson

This year’s class size report continues a tragic trend. 

Class sizes in grades K-3 and grades 4-8 have increased for the fifth year in a row. In high school, they have increased sharply as well, though the data that the DOE reports is not fully reliable.

In Kindergarten, 1^st grade and 2^nd grade, class sizes are now the largest in 14 years, since 1998, when class size data first was reported by the Independent Budget Office.

In 3^rd grade, class sizes are the largest in the historical record – even larger than in 1998.

These are the grades where the research is crystal clear that class sizes make a significant difference in terms of student’s success in school and later in life.

Rigorous evidence shows that children who are in smaller classes in the early grades get higher test scores, better grades, fewer disciplinary referrals, and are more likely to  go to college and