Sun Devil 92
Diamond Member
- Apr 2, 2015
- 32,078
- 11,097
- 1,410
- Banned
- #1
A School Funding Red Herring
Put another way, 16 percent of Allegheny County’s school districts are in the state’s top five percent while 40 percent of its districts are in the top 20 percent.
But based on state Department of Education numbers, Haulk, a Ph.D. economist, found that many of the worst-performing districts spend more per pupil than the county’s top performers.
“South Fayette and Mt. Lebanon had per student spending of $13,511 and $14,977, respectively, in the 2016-17 school year,” the Allegheny Institute scholars says, reminding that the state average was $16,447.
But, “Spending for the two districts in the bottom five percent was $19,982 at Duquesne and $25,016 for Wilkinsburg,” he says.
Other per-pupil spending by other poorly performing Allegheny County school districts included $16,722 for Clairton, $17,280 for Penn Hills and $22,282 for Pittsburgh Public Schools.
“The seven districts ranked in the bottom 20 percent of LEAs spent an average of $18,728,” Haulk says, “with two districts over $20,000 and two more over $19,000.” Only McKeesport and Highlands were well below state average spending.
Put another way, 16 percent of Allegheny County’s school districts are in the state’s top five percent while 40 percent of its districts are in the top 20 percent.
But based on state Department of Education numbers, Haulk, a Ph.D. economist, found that many of the worst-performing districts spend more per pupil than the county’s top performers.
“South Fayette and Mt. Lebanon had per student spending of $13,511 and $14,977, respectively, in the 2016-17 school year,” the Allegheny Institute scholars says, reminding that the state average was $16,447.
But, “Spending for the two districts in the bottom five percent was $19,982 at Duquesne and $25,016 for Wilkinsburg,” he says.
Other per-pupil spending by other poorly performing Allegheny County school districts included $16,722 for Clairton, $17,280 for Penn Hills and $22,282 for Pittsburgh Public Schools.
“The seven districts ranked in the bottom 20 percent of LEAs spent an average of $18,728,” Haulk says, “with two districts over $20,000 and two more over $19,000.” Only McKeesport and Highlands were well below state average spending.