Executive Summary:
A five-year study was conducted from 1994 to 1999 in six representative school districts nationwide (two urban, two suburban, and two rural) to determine the effects of length of cafeteria tables on test scores, attendance, and behavior patterns in elementary school children grades K-4. Table length was found to correlate negatively with test scores in reading and math (e.g. Stanford 9, IOWA test of basic skills) in every school district studied, but positively with test scores in science (ASPCA, ASCAP, BMI).
Correlations between table length and attendance were inconclusive; one rural school showed a surprisingly strong positive correlation (r=1.0) but the sample size (N=3) was too small to produce statistically significant results. In other districts results tended to show a slight negative correlation but again generally at a level too small to consider statistically significant.
It proved to be impossible for our researchers to complete the behavioral analysis portion of the study due to the unwillingness of school districts to produce data on suspensions and expulsions, or on whether the incidents were cafeteria- or classroom-based. A followup five-year analysis is planned to begin in 2004.