BOE Receives Class Size Average Figures for Pre-K Through 5

Numbers from the Stephens County school system show that most of the average class sizes are near where they were last year in grades Pre-K through 5.

School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey provided that information to the Stephens County Board of Education at Thursday’s work session.

According to those figures, all but two of the grades from Pre-K through 5 that were restructured this year are within one student in the average class size when comparing 2014-2015 average class sizes to this year.

The only exceptions are first grade, where this year’s average class size is 17.3, compared to 21 last year, and third grade, where this year’s class size averages 21.7 students, compared to 20.4 students last year.

Dorsey said he has also received questions about second grade, where the average class size this year is 24.4 students compared to 23.4 students in 2014-2015.

He said that overall, he is comfortable with the class sizes, though he notes he would not mind seeing a decrease at the lower grades.

According to the numbers, Kindergarten has an average class size of 20.3, up from 19.6 in 2014-2015.

Third and fourth grades have an average class size of less than a student more than last year, while fifth grade is slightly down from last year.

Dorsey said he school system could consider adding staff to help with some of higher class sizes.

However, he said that is something he feels should be done carefully.

Dorsey said transferring staff where possible is another option to best apply the school system resources to where the needs are.

No decisions were made by the Board of Education Thursday during the work session.