Why Small Class Sizes Matter in Grades K-8

When families tour St. Mark Lutheran School, they often ask us about school culture, our curriculum, how we teach about God, and available extracurriculars. But there's one more question that families should care about as they weigh their education options – class size!

At St. Mark, we believe every child deserves to be known, not just taught. That's why we intentionally keep our classrooms small, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1. Small class sizes allow our teachers to see each student's unique strengths, needs, and growth areas, and to respond with individualized attention. This reflects our belief that every child is uniquely created and deeply loved by God.

Let’s talk about why small class sizes matter for students, for parents, and for the teachers standing in front of the classroom every day.

Why Small Class Sizes Matter to Students

In a large classroom, it's easy for a child to blend into the background. Let’s say one student is struggling with a concept, and another is bored because it’s too easy for them. Those students can slip through the cracks simply because there isn't enough time in the day for a teacher to reach everyone. 

In a class of 28 or 30 students, even a caring, capable teacher has limited bandwidth. In a class closer to St. Mark's 13:1 ratio, no child gets lost in the shuffle.

A 2024 study published in Frontiers in Psychology analyzed data from more than 21,000 schools across 80 countries and found that once class sizes grow beyond roughly 27 students, a school's ability to provide consistent, adequately resourced instruction becomes measurably less predictable. Below that threshold, schools are far more likely to have the staffing, materials, and support systems in place to give every student consistent attention.

Small classes also mean problems get caught early, before they get bigger. The American Federation of Teachers points out that in smaller classes, “teachers know the students better and can recognize problems and special needs early.” 

At St. Mark, students really benefit from experiencing small class sizes. Teachers have the time and tools necessary to act on what they notice, whether a child needs extra support in a subject or is ready for a greater challenge. It’s the whole reason our Student Services program exists, too!

Small classes are also important as students move into the middle school years. Between 6th and 8th grade, independence grows, social dynamics get more complicated, and the stakes for a child's confidence rise. In a large middle school setting, it's easy for a student to fly under the radar during the exact years they need to be seen most. But because St. Mark is a K-8 school with consistently small classes through 8th grade, our students never lose that individual attention.

Why Small Class Sizes Matter to Families

For parents and guardians, small class sizes mean peace of mind. You can be confident your child isn't just a name on a roster, but a whole person his/her teacher genuinely knows and cares about.

Families also appreciate how our Student Services program is a direct extension of our small-class philosophy. Because our teachers already know each child well, they can identify when a student could use extra support or is ready for additional challenge, long before those needs would surface in a larger, more anonymous classroom setting.

Small classes also lead to real, long-term academic benefits that matter to families. Research from the American Federation of Teachers found that students who spend two or more years in small classes during their elementary years:

Why Small Class Sizes Matter to Teachers

Small class sizes don't just change the experience for students and parents. They fundamentally change what teachers can do in their classrooms.

In a smaller class, teachers have the room to design experiences. They can slow down on a concept a few students are struggling with, accelerate for a student who's ready to move ahead, and build in the kind of hands-on, personalized instruction that a packed classroom simply doesn't allow.

The data backs this up. According to the American Federation of Teachers, in smaller classes, “students are more likely to be on task and less likely to talk amongst themselves. They create fewer discipline problems and engage in more pro-social behavior, allowing teachers to devote more time to instruction and less to controlling the class.”

In other words, small classes don't just improve learning for students; they also make teaching more rewarding. St. Mark teachers report that they can spend their energy where it matters most: getting to know each child, building meaningful relationships, and shaping instruction around real, individual needs rather than an average.

How St. Mark Lutheran School Supports Small Class Sizes

Our small class sizes reflect our belief that every child is uniquely created and deeply loved by God and deserves to be known as an individual, not managed as part of a crowd.

With a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio and single-grade K-8 classrooms, St. Mark is built around the idea that small really is significant! It shapes how quickly a struggling student gets support… how confidently a shy student raises their hand… and how deeply a teacher can know and love the students in their care.

Of course, numbers on a page can only tell you so much. The best way to understand what a 13:1 ratio actually feels like is to see it in action. We invite you to schedule a tour of St. Mark Lutheran School and experience our wonderful classrooms for yourself!