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Class-Size Tracker

Frequently Asked Questions

• Smaller Class Sizes
• My Child’s School
• Provincewide Results
• About This Website

My Child’s School

Why do some primary classes still have more than 20 students?

When Ontario set its goal for smaller classes, we allowed 10% of primary classes to have up to 23 students. We know that school boards can’t control everything that affects class size. For example:

• Students move and change schools. So individual class sizes can change from month to month
• Also, growing communities and new housing developments can affect class sizes. When new families move into an area, their children attend local schools. More families and more students means class sizes may grow.

The government is working with school boards to make sure all schools meet the class size goal. Each board has its own plan. And we are making progress. In 2008-09:

• All primary classes have 23 students or fewer
• 90.3% have 20 or fewer

How will smaller classes help my child?

Smaller classes give teachers more time with each student. More time and attention helps students develop reading, writing and math skills. In fact, studies show¹ that smaller classes have:

• Higher performance
• More effective teachers
• Satisfied parents

One study found that primary school children in small classes did better in reading and math than kids in larger classes. The biggest difference was seen in disadvantaged students and students from different cultural backgrounds. They did much better in small classes.

How much money is being spent on my child’s school? Where is it going?

The Ontario government sets the class size goal. And we give money to each school board to help them meet it. Your local board decides how to spend those funds, based on each school’s unique needs. Contact your board to learn more about their plans to reduce class sizes.