Think about your favorite teacher. Maybe they taught you a life lesson that truly shaped your future. Or perhaps they were able to explain a difficult concept to you in a way that finally made sense. Chances are, that favorite teacher is someone who not only taught you, but also knew and cared for you.

At St. Barnabas Episcopal School, we want our teachers to know their students in this way, and one of the key ways we achieve that is with small class sizes. Smaller classes are essential to the personalized learning and individualized instruction that enable our students to excel.

Over the years, many public schools have increased class sizes, often due to budget-related demands. Thankfully, our private school has avoided this trend. We’ve intentionally kept our classes small. In fact, doing so has been one of our main priorities. We’re proud to hire qualified, passionate faculty members, and we know that one of the best ways to support their work is to maintain low student-teacher ratios.

Of course, keeping classes small doesn’t just benefit our teachers!

Here are some of the key benefits our students enjoy.

1. Increased Engagement

Most students find it easiest to grasp and fully understand new concepts when they engage in hands-on learning. Hands-on approaches engage different learning styles, help students connect with how the material is used in real life, and also emphasize soft skills, such as communication and teamwork.

With small class sizes, teachers at St. Barnabas can integrate more hands-on learning opportunities into their curricula. It’s common for lesson plans to include games, group activities, and experiments where students get a chance to apply the material they’ve learned during lectures.

And it’s not just our elementary students who get to participate in these activities. Even our middle schoolers enjoy group projects, lab experiments, and more.

2. Tailored Instruction

Every student is unique. Some students learn well by listening. Others need to do a few extra practice problems to grasp certain concepts. Still others learn best by drawing or visualizing. With small class sizes, the teachers at our private school are able to offer more personalized instruction. They have time to answer questions, explain concepts in multiple ways, and spend a little extra time with any student who’s feeling a little lost.

This ability to offer tailored instruction also shapes the environment in our classrooms. Students feel confident asking questions. They feel comfortable asking for extra help or clarification whenever they need it – and they know that help will always be given with kindness and understanding. Our teachers don’t feel rushed, and our students don’t feel pressured.

3. Stronger Relationships

Think back on that favorite teacher we asked you to recall. They weren’t just someone who stood up in front of your class and lectured, were they? Chances are, they’re someone you had a real relationship with. You might describe that relationship as being one of a mentor and mentee, or that of a child and a role model. The small classes at St. Barnabas allow our teachers to develop these types of relationships with their students.

Our teachers are not robots; they’re community members, role models, fellow Christians, and passionate educators. We want our students to know them as such. Likewise, your child is not just a student; they’re a growing human being, a community member, a thinker, and a young Christian. Our teachers take the time to know and understand all of those different elements and personality traits that make each child unique. They’re able to do that thanks to our small class sizes.

4. A Feeling of Belonging

There’s another important benefit of small classes: students truly feel like they belong at our private school. With our low student-teacher ratios, we’re able to encourage more independent thinking and allow each student to share their honest thoughts and views. In fact, our Standards of Ethical Conduct state that we “shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.”

With a small class, we can take the time to listen to each point of view, discuss it in context, and even offer gentle guidance as needed. This ability to express oneself openly among a small group of peers and mentors allows every student to feel like they belong here – and they truly do!

We have a good thing going at St. Barnabas, and you know what they say about good things: they come in small packages. Our commitment to small classes is something we have no plans of changing.

Are you looking for a private school in the DeLand area? If so, contact St. Barnabas to schedule a tour. We’d love to meet your family and tell you more about our private school benefits, like small class sizes, robust extracurricular programs, and shared values.