Amid New Trier’s falling enrollment, the number of ‘small classes’ are also in decline

Class sizes at New Trier High School have remained stable over the past six years, while the number of classes with 14 students or fewer have decreased, according to the district’s annual class size report.

Dr. Chimille Tillery — assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction who presented the report during New Trier’s regular School Board meeting on Monday, Oct. 20 — said the presentation “provides a perspective on class size and our allocation of resources.

“The report also helps us internally monitor our staffing levels and monitor our staffing allocations to make informed decisions about staffing levels and sectioning for the upcoming school year.”

As of Oct. 1, Tillery said the number of students enrolled at New Trier is 3,685. At the same point during the 2020-2021 school year, that figure was 4,032, meaning New Trier has seen a net decrease of 347 students, or 8.6%, over the last six school years — a drop the district has forecasted and discussed.

Despite the decrease, she said that the school’s average class size has remained consistent. This year, the average class size is 22.7 students per class.

While Tillery said that is a “modest increase” from last year, since 2020-21, the average class size per year was between 22.1 and 22.4 students.

She said that the consistent class size has allowed the school to support its staff and programs.

“We’re maintaining instructional quality while responding thoughtfully to demographic shifts,” Tillery said. “This kind of stability is a positive indicator of our staffing strategies.”

Tillery also said the number of small classes, which New Trier defines as 14 students or less, has decreased to 3.9% of the classes offered by the district.

That’s a 40% decrease over the past six years from when 6.5% of the district’s classes were classified as small.

“It’s been a strategic objective to reduce the number of small classes,” Tillery said. “If we can bring a class that’s below 14 into the higher teens or 20s … it’s still a good ratio and it frees up resources to help offset the larger class sizes. We want to utilize our resources wisely. This data shows that this has been happening over time.”

She added that the district will always have some classes that are small. Some of the classes that fit into that category are capstone courses (those that support students with special or specific needs) or are classes where only one or two sections are offered.

Tillery also said that the median class size is 24 students, and that 50% of all of New Trier’s classes have between 20 and 26 students.

“It’s important to note that we work directly with department chairs and coordinators on making these class sizes together,” she said. “Department leaders are amazing and have a big picture objective. They are great advocates for both students and their teachers, and we work together to hit the targets.”

School Board member Courtney McDonough asked how teachers handle a situation where a student wants to change a course after the school year has begun.

Superintendent Dr. Peter Tragos said based on the history of specific classes, teachers have determined which classes students are most likely to switch out of and have built that into the process of when they section the classes.

Sometimes there are challenges, Tragos said, such as a department capping the number of students in a specific class. But when that happens, he said, the district works with the student and department leaders to determine the best placement for them while also considering the student’s schedule.

He added that most movement with scheduling happens at the beginning of the semester.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.