<p>Average class size is a no brainer, but help me understand the student/faculty ratios. I know what they are - total number of faculty per student (vs. number of students per class), but how exactly is that meaningful?</p>
<p>Not sure. I was wondering that too. But I was thinking maybe they put that as well as student/teacher ratios because it is smaller and effectively people who don't get that will think that their child will be in a class with five other people. On the other hand, it could emphasize how much support your child will have at the school.</p>
<p>My guess is its used to provide an easier "apples to apples" comparison across schools than class size. The schools know the number of students and they know the number of faculty , therefore, its a simple calculation. Class sizes can vary a bit from year to year depending on which classes are more popular at a given time, etc. For example, a school can say classes average 12 students but most will probably be larger or smaller. Some classes may have 12 students and some may only have 5. Just my thoughts...</p>
<p>Almost every school on our list has an average class size of 11 or 12. The student:faculty ratio has varied from 1:5 to 1:8 so far (still looking it up, not listed on all web sites, or at least not in the same place everywhere and I'm not trusting BSR info).</p>
<p>I've heard that schools don't account for the ratios in a standardized manner. Some might include adjunct teachers or part-time music teachers as a full person. Others don't account for part-timers at all. As a result, this might not be the best, most consistent measure. </p>
<p>Linda S -- It looks like you are composing the famous parent spreadsheets! </p>
<p>Here's a measure for you -- When looking at boarding schools, take a look at how many faculty live on campus. This is a measure of community and just plain old looking after the kids. If you want to go into more detail, look for boarding schools that have dorm parents who haven't had to teach a full day plus coach a sport. Some schools will have dorm parents (often faculty husbands/wives) who just focus on dorm life. And be sure to find out about the Health Center plus doctors on call.</p>
<p>Yes, a famous parent spreadsheet is underway - LOL. I coulsn't resist. Not for my son as much for me to remember which school is which. I came across those numbers and simply didn't really understand them. </p>
<p>Good suggestions about the dorm parents and also the Health Center.<br>
Need to give my son a kick to get looking again and see which schools he wants to get materials from.</p>
<p>Thanks to Burb I've been looking at Health Center staffing and WOW!! it sure does vary from school to school and really wasn't something I would have looked at closely before. That will certainly be a parent criteria that might not be as important to our son, but sure is to me. THANKS!</p>
<p>Yes, the student to faculty ratios can be influenced by "part time" instructors, but it is important. Some schools require instructors to handle more sections of class than others. It makes a difference if your child's instructor is required to teach in 4 of the blocks as opposed to 5 of the blocks per day with regards to having more time to lesson plan, etc. When more of the instructors reside on campus, their house parent duties usually result in having fewer sections to instruct as well. Coaching duties also generally reduce the class sections assigned to an instructor.</p>
<p>But like others, I pay more attention to the student to teacher ratio in the classroom. Most are in a small range and it isn't going to make a difference in most cases.</p>