Rise in class size hits local schools
| Monday, Aug 24 2009 07:22 PM
Last Updated Monday, Aug 24 2009 07:24 PM
As expected, class sizes increased on the first day of instruction in most school districts.
While most elementary school districts held close to the 20 students-per-class maximum in grades K-3 last year, some classrooms on Monday were five, six or even a dozen or more students over the limit.
In some Kern High School District classrooms, classes began Monday with 40 or more students.
Class size will average roughly 37 students this year, according to the district.
Last year the district averaged 34 per classroom.
And in 2007-08 the average was 31.
Severe state budget cuts to education mean fewer resources, and fewer teachers to go around.
Private schools, which charge thousands of dollars in tuition, continue to make low class size a priority.
Stockdale Christian, an elementary school, keeps class sizes to 22 and provides a teacher's assistant in each of 27 classrooms the first three hours of the day, said Superintendent Doug Pike.
Bakersfield Christian High School, with an enrollment of 523, sets a maximum class size of 22, said Admissions Administrator Debbie Camp.
Garces Memorial, with 695 students, averages about 28 students per class.
In past years, KHSD has tried to hold ninth-grade math and English classes to 25.
This year the district has asked that its high schools schedule no more than 28 students in these core courses, said district spokesman John Teves.
But some classes will be as high as 40, he acknowledged.
On Monday evening, Assistant Superintendent Gerrie Kincaid said Panama-Buena Vista Union School District was still working on its "warm body" count, and wouldn't arrive at classroom averages until later in the week, after all of its students returned and some "balancing" takes place.
"A lot shakes out in the first few weeks," Teves agreed.
"Some leave, some arrive."
