Editorial: Unfair to penalize students

Monday, March 11, 2002 | 8:46 a.m.

Bonanza High School and Cashman Middle School are among the Clark County School District's 22 high schools and 10 middle schools that have just been notified that their class sizes exceed accreditation standards. For Bonanza and Cashman, it was their second notice, meaning that they are under pressure from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. This organization accredits high schools in a region that includes Nevada and six other states. If class sizes are noted as too large four years in a row, a school could lose its accreditation. Graduates from unaccredited schools could experience difficulty in being admitted to the universities or colleges of their choosing.

Because accreditation is so critical, the Northwest Association should move away from arbitrary numbers in judging whether a district's classes have too many students. A subcommittee within the organization is already studying the 160 students per teacher (for all classes) ratio that is now the standard. This is a number that has been used for many years and needs some adjusting in light of population growth and modern teaching methods. The number, which translates to 32 students per class, is especially inappropriate for the Clark County School District, which has been growing between 12 and 14 percent every year. Enrollment is 245,000 students this year and is projected to be 267,000 next year. Centennial High School, built for 2,700 students, is projected to open with 4,000 students in the fall -- and lots of portable classrooms.

Because the accreditation association looks at a number of factors, it is unlikely that any school's accreditation would be lost simply on the class-size issue. Improvement plans in place at both the schools and district levels will be examined. At the district level, it can be seen that for the past decade Southern Nevada voters have been generous in approving bond issues for new-school construction -- 13 were opened this year and 10 to 13 are planned for next year, including three new high schools. Each school also has an improvement plan regarding the quality of its teachers and counselors, the courses it offers, the achievement levels of its students, how well the library is stocked with up-to-date material, student activities and upkeep of the school buildings and grounds. If all of these other areas are within standards, as they have been over the ye ars, class sizes should not alone sink a school's accreditation.

We don't mean to defend large class sizes or suggest all options for reductions have been exhausted. But it would be unfair to the school district and certainly unfair to students if one factor out of many -- class sizes -- were to result in schools losing their accreditation. In those classes that have 45 students, there will be those achieving at a higher level than students in classes that have far fewer students. While it's necessary to hold schools to standards, students should not be the ones penalized for shortcomings.