From the CATO Institute:
"Just as an example, the CATO study found that, while Washington DC public schools claim to spend about $17,000/student, the actual price tag is closer to $28,000. Just to put this in perspective, this is a higher price than the private Potomac School, Georgetown Preparatory School, Stone Ridge School and Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School. In fact, it’s only $2,000 less than Sidwell Friends, the ultra-exclusive private academy where President Obama’s own daughters attend."
"In other words, parents in Washington are spending nearly as much on schools with a 41.8% dropout rate as they could be on a school that produced Nancy Reagan and Bill Nye and is widely regarded as one of the best private schools in the nation."
My local school system, according to the just published 2009 "Annual Report Card" has 1298 students in 3 schools (Elementary, Middle, and High School). Our hamlet just approved a budget of $18,085.44 for expenditures: just about $18,085 / student. State average is about $13,915 / student.
At least our dropout rate is about 0.88% / year. However, for academic results, SAT scores of our high school graduates have been consistently below the state average the last 4 years. NECAP scores (think NE regional standardized testing) aren’t up to snuff at the high school level: only about 30% are proficient or above in math, ditto in science (reading has 75% proficient or better).
Good value for a cost / results ratio in relation to state average?? For those that read the stats, probably nope. For those merely looking at the kids’ report cards/ Maybe?
You?
