Schools

Too Crowded? Compare Class Sizes at Local High Schools

The state average for high school class size is 23.6. How do Pacifica high schools rate?

 

Class sizes at Pacifica high schools push past the statewide average but have a lower pupil-to-teacher ratio than other California high schools, recently released figures from the 2011-12 school year show.

Oceana High School, with 613 students, has higher class sizes than both Jefferson High and Half Moon Bay High schools at 28.2 students per class. The state average is 23.6, according to the statistics published on the Ed-Data website.

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Terra Nova High in Pacifica comes in with the biggest average class size: 28.7. It also has the largest pupil-to-teacher ratio, with 24.5 students per educator.

Jefferson High boasts the lowest class size at 25.9 students on average in the classroom and only 21.7 student per teacher ratio.

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Check out area high schools here or do your own comparisons on the Ed-Data website:

School Class Size Comparisons, 2011-12 School Enrollment Average Class Size Pupils per Teacher Number of Teachers

Jefferson High

1181 25.9 21.7 57 Half Moon Bay High 935 27.6 22.1 45 Hillsdale High 1318 26.9 19.1 77 Oceana High 613 28.2 22.7 29 San Mateo High 1373 28.0 20.1 76 Terra Nova High 1230 28.7 24.5 52 Statewide Average n/a 23.6 22.7 n/a

The statistics are published by the the Ed-Data website, a partnership between the California Department of Education (CDE), EdSource, and the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team to provide data about K-12 education.

There's a longstanding debate surrounding the importance of class size. A report issued two years ago by the Brookings Institute indicated significant class size reduction—along the lines of seven to 10 students—had the biggest impact on student achievement, but this was much more pronounced in younger students than at the high school level.

Do you think average class size at Pacifica high schools are too high? How does this impact students' learning? Tell us in the comment section below.

READ MORE ON PATCH: 

  • Oceana High School Launches its First Online Newspaper
  • Should Free Condoms Be Available at Local High Schools?
  • Compare Coastside Teacher Salaries
  • Problem Solved? 8th Grade Math Curriculum May Change in Pacifica
  • Is Gov. Brown Right to Dole Out Money to Schools Unequally?

Keep up with local news — follow Patch

Sign up for Pacifica Patch’s daily newsletter
"Like” us on Facebook
"Follow” us on Twitter

 
Want to share your opinions with the Pacifica community? Start your
own blog here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here