Multiage Research Conducted at Whittier School

Research was conducted by doctoral candidates at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Information was gathered comparing cognitive development and social development in multiage programs at Whittier to successful single grade classrooms. Condensed results are available here. For more detailed informatio, please contact the the Whittier school offices.

Cognitive development:
MAP (Multiage Program) students progressed through cognitive stages of development at a faster rate.

MAP students have a better understanding of reality.

MAP students coordinate multiple perspectives in their thinking.

Social development:
MAP students are less egocentric than their peers.

MAP children with low levels of peer acceptance during their first year in MAP made dramatic improvements with social acceptance in their second year.

MAP students with low levels of peer acceptance all finished the program with average levels of peer acceptance, leaving "at risk" labels behind.

In traditional settings, children with low peer acceptance carry the same level of acceptance throughout school years.