School Makes Progress on Reduced Class Size Plan
Image: Angela Zou x ChatGPT
By YAN CHEN and ANGELA ZOU
Big changes are coming to Midwood classrooms. In accordance with a state law passed in 2022, no class at the school will have more than 25 students by 2028. The school has already started making adjustments to meet the new limits, marking the beginning of a major shift in how students and teachers experience daily learning.
New York City created the class size reduction plan, which has a five year phase in, to boost learning and make classrooms more equitable. Supporters believe smaller classes give teachers more time for each student and create better learning environments. The law followed years of pressure from parents, teachers, and unions who said city schools were too crowded.
Before 2023, the size limit for a high school class was 34 students, which was typical for Midwood.
"We've been trying our best to apply this policy to every class and recruit more teachers,” said Mr. Albert Peterson, the assistant principal of attendance and programming. “For Physical Education classes, we aim to reach a goal of 40 students per gym.”
Currently, over 50% of Midwood’s classes have been adjusted to no more than 25 students per class, with junior and senior classes being the priority. “It is uncertain how many accepted freshmen will enroll at Midwood and whether any sophomores might transfer,” said Mr. Peterson. “That is why we are focusing on adjusting junior and senior classes first, since they are more stable.”
“I feel like this is a positive change,” said Melissa Dong ‘25. “Last year, the classroom always felt too crowded, and it was difficult to move around. Now with smaller classes, activities that involve moving around the classroom should be much easier.”
“It’s nice to have fewer people in class because it’s easier to ask questions and get help,” said Sophi Chen ’27. “The teachers can actually pay attention to everyone.”
When schedules were released in early September, it became clear that some teachers were new to students. To reduce class sizes to 25, Midwood has hired additional teachers, especially in core subjects like English, Math, and Science, to accommodate the change and ensure the new policy is met.
Some students have already noticed the many fresh faces. “I was so confused at first when I saw a teacher’s name that I had never heard of,” said Kaiqi Zheng ’27. “I asked my friends and found out there are [a lot of] new teachers.”
The class size reduction will continue over the next three years, with full implementation expected by 2028. While challenges remain, school leaders, teachers, and students are hopeful that these smaller classes will create a stronger, more focused learning environment at Midwood.