Student to Teacher Ratio: What It Means, Why It’s Important, and What to Look For

Choosing the right private school for your child is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, and it starts with their very first classroom. A good private school will provide the best education, preparing your student for success in later life. 

But it doesn’t stop there.

The right private school will also help your child develop emotionally and personally. A strong educational environment will foster a love of growth and learning, support healthy friendships, and provide unique opportunities.

There are a lot of factors to consider when comparing private schools, and one of the most important is the student per teacher ratio. Let’s look at what this number means, why it’s important, and what you should look for.

 

What is a Student-Teacher Ratio?

 

A student-teacher ratio is the number of students per individual educator in a school or classroom. It is expressed as a simplified ratio.

For example, if there are 30 students in a classroom with one educator, the student-teacher ratio would be 30:1. If there were two teachers in that classroom, however, the ratio would be 15:1, because there are 15 students for every one teacher.

 

Why is Student-Teacher Ratio Important?

 

Student per teacher ratio is one of the strongest indicators of student success in any school or classroom. Smaller ratios—achieved by smaller classes or more teachers and teachers’ aides available per classroom—create a variety of benefits.

 

• Attentive instruction – Every student gets better teaching. This means students who are struggling get the individual assistance they need, but also that high achievers are quickly identified and can be given more challenging work.
• Improved student engagement – Students are more likely to speak up, share their opinions, and engage with classroom programs in small groups or more intimate settings.
• Greater teacher availability – Fewer students per educator lightens the workload on instructors, giving them more time to work with students and develop creative, engaging teaching opportunities for their classes.
• Fewer distractions – Smaller classrooms and more regulated groups reduces the occurrence of students acting out or classrooms getting out of hand. This creates a better environment for both educators and students.

All of these factors work together to improve student performance. 

 

Benefits of Low Student-Teacher Ratios

 

The earlier students get to engage in education at a low student-teacher ratio, the longer those positive results impact kids. Low student to teacher ratios in elementary school create ripples of growth and improved academic performance for years.

The Tennessee STAR study is one of the most thorough reports on student-teacher ratio. For the study, researchers reduced some elementary class sizes 32% and then monitored students in both regular and smaller class sizes, for years.

The STAR study found that students who were initially in smaller classes still demonstrated improved academic achievement four years later. 

A similar study was done across every high school in Turkey. That research revealed that students who attended schools with a lower number of students per teacher tended to score higher on the country’s standard, annual exam.

 

What is the Average Student to Teacher Ratio?

 

Student to teacher ratios have improved  across the U.S. over the past 10 years. The student-teacher ratio at private schools has been better than the ratio at public schools since the early 1970s, but the gap really started to widen around 2010.

In 2021, the average student to teacher ratios in the U.S. were:

 

• Public school student-teacher ratio = 15.4:1
• Private school student-teacher ratio = 12.5:1

 

Sources expect those ratios to continue falling. Forecasts put public schools at a 14.7:1 ratio by 2031 and private schools at 10.1:1 ratio.

 

Student-Teacher Ratio in Nevada

 

The average student-teacher ratio in Nevada, from kindergarten through sixth grade is 22:1, according to the Nevada Department of Education. Lower averages through second grade offset higher averages in upper elementary classrooms.

 

This puts Nevada public schools slightly behind national averages, especially for elementary school levels.

The State of Nevada technically requires a student-teacher ratio of 16:1 or better for kindergarten through second grade and 18:1 or better for third grade. State statute 388.700 does, however, include provision for exceptions, and the teacher shortage in Nevada is calling on them.

The student-teacher ratio in private elementary schools in the Las Vegas area averages 10:1.

 

What is the Student-Teacher Ratio at Las Vegas Day School?

 

The Las Vegas Day School is committed to fostering individual growth for students from preschool through eighth grade. Part of that commitment means maintaining better-than-average student to teacher ratios through elementary school, when it matters most.

• Our preschool classroom maintains an 8:1 student-teacher ratio.
• Our pre-kindergarten program operates at a 9:1 student-teacher ratio.
• Our kindergarten program operates at a 9:1 student-teacher ratio.
• All of our elementary classrooms hold 10:1 student-teacher ratios.
• All of our middle school classrooms are at 22:1 student-teacher ratios.

Students at Las Vegas Day School get the attention, instruction, and opportunities they need to grow and thrive because educators are available to each individual child.

Student-Teacher Ratio FAQs

Our team of educators is happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Here are a few we hear most often, related to student-teacher ratios.

 

What is a good student to teacher ratio?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for what an ideal student-teacher ratio should be. Some have agreed on 18:1, but this is really more appropriate for middle school and high school classrooms than settings for younger children. 

 

What is the legal teacher to student ratio?

There is no federal requirement for student-teacher ratios, but many states have enacted laws that require certain standards to be met. The State of Nevada requires a student-teacher ratio of 16:1 or better for kindergarten through second grade.

Start Your Child’s Education Right With Las Vegas Day School

The mission of Las Vegas Day School is to foster each individual student’s growth and development as a self-assured, dedicated learner, who will shape the future of our society. We believe in the value and potential of each individual student, and our entire staff is passionate about developing life-long learners.

Schedule a tour to see our facility and talk to some of our educators yourself.