Every parent knows the feeling. You drop your child off and wonder: will anyone notice if they are struggling today? Will anyone notice if they are bored?
That question is exactly why small class sizes matter so much. Simply put, when a teacher has fewer students, they have more time for each one. As a result, your child gets known, supported, and challenged instead of simply passing through.
At EDUPRIZE, we have built our schools around that idea since 1995. Here is what small class sizes actually do for kids, and what it looks like in our Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Online classrooms.
What the Research Says About Small Class Sizes
Small classes are not just a nice-sounding promise. In fact, one of the best-known education studies in the country looked at this exact question. Tennessee’s Project STAR followed students from kindergarten through 3rd grade in the late 1980s. The students in smaller classes earned the highest scores on achievement tests in all four years, and the pattern held in rural, suburban, urban, and inner-city schools alike.
Importantly, the early grades matter most here. That is when kids are learning to read, building number sense, and forming their first feelings about school. Consequently, getting more attention in those years can shape how a child sees themselves as a learner for a long time.
What Small Class Sizes Look Like Day to Day
Of course, numbers only tell part of the story. So what actually changes in a smaller classroom?
- More one-on-one time. Teachers can sit beside a student, check their work, and explain it a different way.
- Faster help. When a child starts to slip, the teacher notices in days, not months.
- Real challenge. Advanced learners get pushed instead of waiting for everyone else.
- More voices heard. Quiet kids get more chances to answer, share, and lead.
- Stronger relationships. Teachers get to know each child’s strengths, worries, and interests.
In other words, small class sizes turn “the class” back into a group of individual kids.
Small Class Sizes at EDUPRIZE Queen Creek
Our Queen Creek campus in San Tan Valley is a great example of what this looks like with real numbers. Kindergarten classes average about 20 students, and every grade stays in the 20s. In other words, Queen Creek classrooms are never overcrowded with 30 or more kids.
Just as important, those small classes come with award-winning academics. EDUPRIZE Queen Creek is the only A+ Excelling charter school in Pinal County. For families in Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, and the surrounding area, that combination of small classes and strong results is close to home.
Small Class Sizes at EDUPRIZE Gilbert
Our Gilbert campus is where EDUPRIZE began in 1995. For over 30 years, Gilbert families have counted on small classes, certified teachers, hands-on learning, and gifted services, along with clubs, arts, and athletics.
Gilbert also holds six A+ Excelling ratings of its own. In addition, the campus offers a range of options for families, including K-8 traditional classes and our FLEX program, a shorter five-hour school day with the same strong academics.
Does Class Size Matter Online, Too?
Absolutely, just in a different way. EDUPRIZE Online is our tuition-free K-12 program for families anywhere in Arizona. Online, the question is not how many desks are in the room. Instead, it is whether your child has a real teacher who knows them.
For that reason, EDUPRIZE Online includes certified, caring teachers, live lessons, and virtual events. It is a real school community, not just a set of self-paced videos. So whether your family lives in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, or a small town in between, your child still gets the personal attention that makes learning stick.
Questions to Ask Any School About Class Size
First, when you compare schools, class size is one of the most useful questions you can ask. Here are a few to bring with you:
- What is the average class size in my child’s grade?
- Does that number change in the upper grades?
- How often do teachers work with students one-on-one or in small groups?
- How do teachers support kids who are ahead or behind?
- How do teachers communicate with families?
Of course, the best way to get a feel for class size is to see it. Tours are available at both of our ground campuses, and our enrollment teams are happy to answer questions about Online.
The EDUPRIZE Difference
Small class sizes are one part of what makes EDUPRIZE feel like family. Thirty years. Six consecutive A+ Excelling ratings, the longest A+ Excelling streak of any charter school in Arizona. Thousands of families. And through it all, one simple goal: every child known by name.
All of our K-8 and Online programs are tuition-free, with no income requirements.
Ready to Enroll for 2026-27?
Above all, we would love to meet your family. Reach out to the campus closest to you, or apply online today.
- EDUPRIZE Gilbert (K-8): 580 W. Melody Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233 | 480-344-2622 | gilbertenrollment@eduprize.com
- EDUPRIZE Queen Creek (K-8): 4567 W. Roberts Rd, San Tan Valley, AZ 85144 | 480-888-1610 | qcenrollment@eduprize.com
- EDUPRIZE Online (K-12, statewide): Apply at https://www.eduprize.com/Apply/
Apply now: https://www.eduprize.com/Apply/
Learn more: https://www.eduprize.com
Small classes. Big hearts. Welcome to the Eagle family.