About Hoover » Combination Classes

Combination Classes

How and Why We Create Them

 

At Hoover and in Burlingame School District elementary schools, our class size maximums don’t always match the number of students we have at a school in a given grade. For example, for the 2025 - 2026 school year, we have 27 second graders at Hoover. That’s more than we can fit in one second-grade class (maximum 24 - 25 students), but not enough students to form two full second-grade classes.

 

Image with teacher with students at carpet and other students at the table

When this happens in Burlingame School District, we create a combination class by combining a portion of the grade level students - in this case, at least 8 second graders - into a class with students from another grade level, either 1st grade or 3rd grade, depending on what works best for the whole school's class configurations. Combination classes support Burlingame School District’s commitment to neighborhood schools.

How We Design Combination Classes

Teachers and school team members spend many meetings over months reviewing each student’s strengths, needs, and peer relationships while making decisions for class assignment. 
 

We carefully consider:

  • Class size guidelines

    • Grades K–3: Maximum 24 - 25 students per class (25 with teacher approval)

    • Grades 4–5: Maximum 30 students per class 

  • Grade level representation: At least 8 students per grade in any combination class

  • Compatibility and balance: Academic needs, social dynamics, and overall composition of the class

  • Thoughtful placement: Input and conversations with staff members, previous teachers, specialist teachers

Learning in Combination Classes

Students continue to receive high academic rigor and also have opportunities to socialize with peers from their same grade. 

Small Group & Targeted Instruction (Grade-Level Learning)

  • Literacy: Differentiated small-group reading & writing instruction
  • Math: Taught in grade-level cohorts for targeted support
Whole-Class Learning & Community Building (Both Grades Together)

  • Art

  • Science & Social Studies: Depending on topics and theme

  • Social Emotional Learning: Class meetings and community-building activities

Opportunities for Students to Connect With Grade Level Students
  • PE, Recesses and Lunch Period: Students with same grade level peers 

  • Field Trips: Aligned and organized with the grade level learning goals

  • Special Events & Projects

Combination Classes Across Burlingame Schools

Teacher sitting with small group

Burlingame School District offers combination classes, continuing a tradition that spans decades! In fact, some of our current BSD parents were once students in our elementary schools and experienced combination classes themselves.

 

As of the 2025–2026 school year, every school in the Burlingame School District has at least one combination class. During the 2024 - 2025 school year, 452 students (about 20% of all elementary students across the district) were enrolled in combination classes.

 

At Hoover, combination classes are woven into the fabric of our Hoover Hawks school experience. Due to our student enrollment numbers, combination classes are part of Hoover every year - and it’s highly likely they always will be!

 

Our teachers are well prepared to lead combination classes. They receive ongoing support and curricular resources, and many bring years of experience teaching combination classes. These classes offer unique benefits, including flexible grouping, leadership opportunities, and chances for students to build broader peer relationships beyond their grade level. Above all, our goal is to create learning environments where every student learns and grows academically, socially, and emotionally.