Max Number of Students in Texas Public Schools

House Bill 18 was voted on yesterday, and did not pass, which is a good thing. It would have repealed a law that sets a limit on k-4 classes in Texas at a 22-1 ratio. As far as I know, there isn't a limit on size after that, but I could be wrong. I know that my son's classes have been huge in Jr. High, and I teach 11th and 12th grade, and also have huge classes. I hope this helps. You may be able to find more information on the Texas Education Agency website.

It is 22 for k-4th but districts may get waivers. When I was a team leader I could have 24. Where did you hear 26? If it is the gossip in the neighborhood, call the district office and find out for sure. I know a teacher who taught kinder in California for several years and had 30 kids in her class.

Hello,

The Senate has just passed a measure to increase the class size to 25, see below, stillhas to pass the House. Currently the max is 22 in K-2. I think it is critical we keep the class size to 22 since in my mind that is enough for one teacher to manage. Unfortunately state budget cuts are causing a lot of changes for the state and ultimately the school districts.

DALLAS, TX (KERA) - The Texas Senate has passed a measure that allow schools to increase elementary class sizes and move quicker to dismiss teachers to help ease budget strains.

The measure must now pass the House. The Legislature is meeting in special session to pass new school finance laws to balance the budget. Lawmakers are reducing the state's obligation to school districts by $4 billion.

Republican Sen. Florence Shapiro said the bill passed Monday would give school administrators more flexibility in adjusting to the budget cuts. Teacher groups argue smaller class sizes result in better education and oppose raising the limit.

The current limit is 22 students and has been state law for nearly 30 years. The proposed change would allow schools to seek waivers to raise the limit to 25.

Right now the current class limit is 22 (K-4) but wavers are available for larger class sizes. There are bills being considered to raise this limit to 25. Middle school doesn't have the same requirements, nor does High School.

Through this past school year (2010-2011), the ratio was 22:1 for K-4 and 125 students per day for 5-12. Multiple school districts' school boards are passing a ruling to allow K-4 to have a ratio of 25:1 and 5-12 to see up to 150 students per day (5-12 grades don't go by per class limits since the students rotate classes during the day) beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. If a classroom needs the 26th (or 151st for upper grades) student in their classroom, the school can apply for a class size waiver and are rarely denied (ie the ratios really are more of a guideline than an absolute). I see that you live in Denton, if your children go to Northwest school, they are one of the districts that I know for a fact has passed this ruling.

Right now, the state law is 22:1 for grades K-2. That said, schools just have to apply for a waiver to exceed this. They also are then required to send a letter home to every parent informing them about the waiver. With the current budget crisis, most schools will have to do this. In case you haven't heard the Texas legislature cut $4 billion in education funding plus some other grants/programs that impact schools. It is causing massive layoffs and cuts in districts across the state. Middle and High schools will likely be hit the hardest because there are no class size caps. If you don't like what you hear, contact your legislators and let them know- it is the only way to change things. You can also Check out savetxschools.org, it has information about how these cuts will affect schools.

I'm in California, but I know that class sizes are definitely changing with so many teachers losing their jobs and schools closing due to budget cuts.
Call your district office to find out what the limits are.

In the front part of the bus it has a plaque that states how many students can be on the bus. If it fits 45 then it will have as many a s possible up to that number. They just can't afford the fuel for the buses without maxing out the occupancy.

All the responses below are correct, but have some confidence in your school principal. The principal will usually only add extra students (once the waiver has been approved) to a teacher who has the experience and skills to manage a larger class. In many cases, the school enrollment fluctuates massively during the first two weeks of school, so it is irresponsible for principals to hire an extra teacher and then discover the classes all work out within the states limits. This only applies for K-4 in texas.

My kids are in middle and high schools and both are in Pre-AP classes, I also sub at the middle school and see many levels of classrooms. I agree that if you want your student in a smaller class, stay in Pre-AP and AP classes. I subbed in a art class that had 37 8th graders and 26 of them were boys! Believe it or not, they did great for me that day but the teacher told me that class was exhausting for her.

I"m not sure about that. I know my nieces 5th grade class had about 30. I think there is a limit for K-4. I agree...call the Texas Education Agency, or search around on their website. I know in high school (ten years ago, for me) I had massive classes.

I believe the state only sets limits on elementary class size (k-4)

The problem isn't student/teacher ratio. The problem is the lack of discipline. In the 50s and 60s the class size for 1-6 grades was usually around 32. Our teachers had no aides, did it all by themselves, and we knew what we were going to get if we acted up. THEN we knew we'd get it again when we got home because the principal would call our parents! Having been a teacher myself, I can assure you I could teach a room full of kids if I didn't have to teach them the stuff parents should have already instilled in them at home.

state sets limits and that was what was part of the special session recently. It also depends in reality...the state sets an AVERAGE for the secondary classes...which means not every class will have that many and that allows for others to go way above it. I have taught chemistry classes of 38 and 40, which is above the limit, but the AP classes only had 9 kids, so that still makes the AVERAGE...