concordia is a community based planning and design team with a collective passion for the principles of concord. We implement our work through an integrative and participatory process that addresses physical, cultural, social, educational, organizational and economic assets and needs.
We're Excited to Announce the Release of the Dollars & Sense II Book and Website!
Home / Media & Publications / We're Excited to Announce the Release of the Dollars & Sense II Book and Website!
Quality small schools are affordable and sustainable, and most importantly - they make sense. Thirty years of education research, summarized by Dollars and Sense: The Cost-effectiveness of Small Schools, shows that small schools retain a higher percentage of students, have lower rates of violence and disciplinary problems, and send more students on to post-secondary education than larger schools. Now Dollars and Sense II: Lessons from Good, Cost-effective Small Schools (Dollars & Sense II) furthers the evidence that good small schools not only are successful, but also are more affordable when compared to larger schools in the same district.
This study disproves the "common wisdom" that "small schools may be a good idea, but they are impractical because they cost too much." An analysis of the budgets of 25 schools in 10 states reveals that the average cost per pupil for these small schools is about 17% lower than for larger schools in the same or similar districts. In addition, Dollars & Sense II lays out practical strategies for cost-effectiveness that have been field-tested by schools and reports analysis of data from over 3,000 school construction projects.
Dollars & Sense II proves that good small schools are being built and operated cost-effectively, and shares ideas other small schools can adapt to their own needs. In doing do, it demonstrates that good small schools are the most fiscally and socially responsible investment in education for students, their families and communities, and the future of our nation.
The report is published in Cincinnati, Ohio by KnowledgeWorks Foundation; an operating foundation that empowers communities to improve education. Visit the Dollars and Sense II website and download the report today!