In recent years, New York City has been experimenting with smaller high schools that enroll 600 or fewer students. The aim has been to determine whether they can better serve struggling students from poorer sections of the city.

Now a two-year study by researchers at New York University has concluded that while they are somewhat more expensive on a per pupil basis, their costs are nearly in line with those of larger schools when considered on a per graduate basis. New York's small-school movement has been viewed as a precursor of the national charter-school movement.

• Researchers found that small schools spent $7,628 a year for each pupil during the 1996 budget year -- $1,410 more than large schools with 2,000 or more students.

• But they spent only $25 more per graduate.

• The smaller schools had a graduation rate within four years of 63.2 percent -- compared to 55.9 percent in large schools.

• Thus, researchers suggested both small and large schools spend about $49,500 per graduate over four years.

New York Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew has raised questions about the efficacy of small schools, particularly their costs. Champions of small schools and advocates of large schools have had a running debate for some years and, until now, the research had been inconclusive.

Observers say the NYU report, due for release today, should substantially quiet the long-running debate.