According to a Recent Study

The best way to increase the life expectancy of America’s young may lie in an unlikely location far from the hospital, a group of researchers from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and Virginia Commonwealth University reported in a study this week.

When compared to gains from traditional medical interventions, the study shows that the most cost-effective way to increase quality-adjusted life expectancy for children is not a traditional medical technique at all, but rather reducing class sizes.

The study draws on nationwide data from Project STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Ratio) dating back as far as 20 years and compares the anticipated life-year gains from reducing class sizes to 13 to 17 students in early grades. The results show an average gain of nearly 2 years and $168,431 in lifetime revenue, which the research team attributes to the fact that smaller classes improve educational outcomes.

“Higher earnings and better job quality enhance access to health insurance coverage, reduce exposure to hazardous work conditions, and provide individuals and families with the necessary resources to move out of unfavorable neighborhoods and to purchase goods and services,” said Peter Muennig, MD, MPH, and assistant professor of health policy and management at the Mailman School, said in a press release.
“Regardless of class size, the net effect of graduating from high school is roughly equivalent to taking 20 years of bad health off of your life.”

Muennig also noted that the gains are most dramatic when targeted toward the lowest income students. The researchers said that the study raises questions about whether investments in conventional medical care are the most cost-effective interventions, especially as some research shows that the performance of American students is declining relative to other nations.