In recent years, Small Learning Communities (SLCs) have evolved as a school reform to improve high schools and student achievement. Although much has been written about how to implement SLCs, little research has been conducted to evaluate their long-term effectiveness.

This case study analyzed Small Learning Communities in large high schools in the East Bay area of San Francisco. The study focused on SLCs in large comprehensive high schools. Stand-alone SLCs which are not part of a larger comprehensive high school, or small high schools were not examined.

Small Learning Communities make these large high schools "smaller" by grouping students into common learning environments, also known as academies. Some characteristics of smaller learning environments are: a common curricular theme, the same group of students (a cohort), the same core group of teachers, and a distinct area (e.g. wing) of the school where they are housed.

This case study analyzed Small Learning Communities by focusing on the effectiveness of implementation, long-term success after five years, and an analysis of data to determine the gains in student achievement.

This research project showed that effective SLC implementation, at the creation phase, can lead to long-term gains in student achievement after five years. The gains in student achievement realized by the students in the five SLCs in this case study showed significant gains over the general, school-wide student populations.