Impact of Overcrowding in American Schools on Student Performance

In the US education system, overcrowding occurs when the number of enrolled students at a school is larger than the number of students the school has been designed or staffed to accommodate. This results in teachers managing overful classrooms or, in severe cases, schools running out of classroom space, not to mention the stress placed on educational resources and materials. Unsurprisingly, overcrowding in American schools can have an adverse effect on student performance.

According to the National Education Association (NEA), the ideal classroom should number from 13 to 17 students, for an optimal average class size of 15 individuals. The average classroom size in 2023 was 24 students, or about 60 percent above NEA recommendations. Public schools have a 16 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio, while research indicates that ratios of 15 to 1 or better can significantly improve student performance, particularly among younger students and students enduring socio-economic challenges. It should be noted that the student-teacher-ratio does not always correlate with class size — certain classrooms may require multiple full-time teachers, for example.

A National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) study found that 26 percent of public schools had enrollment figures within 5 percent of intended accommodations. An estimated 14 percent of the nation’s schools had enrollments exceeding intended capacity by up to 25 percent, including 8 percent of schools that were severely overcrowded, exceeding capacity by more than 25 percent. Overall, about one quarter of the nation’s schools, or 17,400 facilities, can be categorized as overcrowded, or overenrolled, though it can be said that the majority of America’s schools are within 5 percent of their maximum enrollment capacities.

The NCES study found a few outlying characteristics of severely overcrowded schools. For instance, 14 percent of large schools were severely overcrowded, compared to just 4 and 5 percent of small- and medium-sized schools, respectively. Schools in the West experience severe overcrowding at a higher rate than similar schools in the Northeast and Midwest.

Perhaps most troubling is the part a school’s ethnic distribution can play in overcrowding. Overcrowding occurs in 15 percent of Americans schools with student bodies comprised of 50 percent minority enrollment, but in just 4 percent of schools with minority enrollment of 5 percent or lower. About 6 percent of schools with minority enrollment from 21 to 50 percent experience overcrowding.

The impact of overcrowding can be felt throughout a school. Research maintains that overcrowded schools endure wear and tear at an above average rate, leading to an increase in maintenance costs or a decrease in school condition. About 24 percent of the nation’s public schools state that at least one onsite building could be in better condition — this figure nearly doubles at overcrowded schools. Building feature damages are also more prevalent at overcrowded schools.

Of course, the major concern associated with overcrowding is the impact on student performance. Some of the issues posed by overcrowding are obvious: more students in the same space results in more noise and distractions, making it difficult for teachers to deliver lessons or notice students struggling with a specific idea or skill. It is virtually impossible for an educator to deliver an effective lesson to a classroom of 30 to 40 children.

The increase in noise and distractions in overcrowded classrooms overlaps with disciplinary problems. In some cases, students may rile one another up and create a truly chaotic classroom environment. In other instances, teachers have few resources to deal with crowded classrooms outside of sending students to the principal’s office. In both situations students lose out on valuable education time. Further, the more disciplinary issues a student has, the less likely they are to graduate on time, or at all.

Finally, overcrowded schools are more likely to deal with illnesses. This is not just because of the sheer number and proximity of the students, but also because of the related school condition problems. Overcrowded schools often lack proper ventilation systems, for instance, and may not be kept at proper temperatures, resulting in environments that support pollutants, allergens, and even harmful chemicals. Illnesses obviously pose a health risk, but they can also cause extended absences, which hinder a student’s ability to learn and graduate on time.