Research Note: The Growth of Old Order Mennonite Schools

Abstract

Schools for horse-and buggy Old Order Mennonite students have shown steady growth in the United States and Canada. In 1966, there were 34 schools located in Pennsylvania and Ontario. At that time, the majority of them were one-teacher schools led by a female teacher with an average of 27.4 pupils per teacher. By 1980, there were 138 schools located in nine states and Ontario. The majority were one-teacher schools led by a female teacher with an average of 24.2 students per teacher. By the 2022–2023 school year, there were 427 schools with an average of 14.7 pupils per teacher located in 14 states and three provinces. The majority of teachers were female, and the two-teacher school was now the most common type of school. Other key changes by the 2022–2023 school year were the number of schools with a special education teacher—52 schools (12% of all schools)—and the use of helpers (teaching assistants) in 22% of the schools. The growth rate of Old Order Mennonite schools was approximately seven new schools per year from 1966 through 2022.