Class sizes in 1^st through 5^th grades rose for the sixth straight year this fall, reaching their highest levels in at least a decade, according to new data released by the Department of Education on Nov. 15.

Early-grade class sizes, which researchers and practitioners widely agree should be capped at no more than 20 students, increased even more than did upper elementary, middle or high school classes for the 2013-14 school year, according to the DOE’s 2013-14 Preliminary Class Size Report.

“These numbers come as no surprise, given the fact that the mayor has previously said that his ideal would be to double class size,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew, reacting to the new report.  

The average 2^nd-grade classroom now has 25.5 students, up from 21.1 students in 2006; 19 percent of 2^nd-grade classrooms now have 30 or more students. Kindergarten average class sizes, unchanged from 2012 at 23.1 students, are the highest they have been since 1998.

The increases defy state mandates as well as common educational practice.

The city has been told by the state to reduce class sizes since 2007, but has ignored the orders. From 2007-08 through 2009-10 the DOE received $760.7 million in Contract for Excellence state funding targeted specifically to class size reduction.  Yet class sizes are now larger than they were during the height of the recession.

For 2013-14, 6^th-grade classes remained at the same high average of 26.8 students per class that it reached last year; 7^th-grade class sizes came down by a fractional two-tenths of a student to 27.4 students per classroom. Eighth-grade class sizes rose to 27.9 students on average, from 27.6 last year.

High school core classes — English, math, science and social studies — increased to 26.7 students on average. More than half, 53 percent, of all high school math classes now have 30 or more students.