Area Schools Are Spending More Per Pupil, But Less In Classrooms

In the Holbrook Unified School District, per pupil spending has increased by 30 percent over the last five years through the end of fiscal year 2010, according to the state Auditor General.

The district spends 54.9 percent of all funds directly in the classroom. That is down from a previous average of 55.6 percent. Remaining expenditures are divided up as follows: administration, 8.3 percent; student support, 8.1 percent; transportation, 6.4 percent; instruction support, 5.4 percent; food service, 3.7 percent; and plant operations, or building maintenance, 13.2 percent.

The Holbrook School District spent a total of $5,843 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2010, while a total of $4,795 per student was spent in non-classroom dollars during the same period. That compares to $5,743 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2009, and $4,485 per student in non-classroom spending that same year. For fiscal year 2010, the peer average was $4,466 in classroom dollars and $4,310 in non-classroom dollars, while the state average was $4,253 in classroom dollars and $3,356 in non-classroom dollars.

The report by the auditor general’s office notes that the district spends an average of $886 per student on administration costs. The peer average for similar districts is $1,060 per student, while the state average is $721.

Holbrook spends $6.89 per square foot for plant operations, which is considered high by the auditor’s standards. Similar school districts spend an average of $5.34 per square foot, while the statewide average is $6.25 per square foot. The district is responsible for a large amount of space per student, however, and has 204 square feet of facilities per pupil, compared to the peer average of 243, and the state average of 146 square feet.

Food service costs the Holbrook district $2.60 per meal, compared to the peer average of $2.83 per meal and the state average of $2.41 per meal. Holbrook spends an average of $394 per student on food service.

Transportation costs per mile are low for Holbrook, but the number of miles averaged per rider is high due to the large physical size of the district. Holbrook school district spends $1.51 per mile, compared to the peer average of $2.55 per mile and the state average of $3.35 per mile. Miles per rider is massive at 723 miles, compared to a peer average of 360 miles per rider and a state average of 282 miles per rider. The district spends an average of $674 per student on transportation.

According to the report, the Holbrook district has a 78 percent graduation rate, compared to the peer average of 63 percent and the state average of 76 percent.

The student to teacher ratio is lower than most other districts at 12.6, compared to the 14.7 peer average and 17.9 state average.

Winslow

In the Winslow Unified School District, per pupil spending has increased by 19 percent over the last five years through the end of fiscal year 2010, according to the state Auditor General.

The district spends 52.9 percent of all funds directly in the classroom. That is down from a previous average of 56.8 percent. Remaining expenditures are divided up as follows: administration, 9.5 percent; student support, 4.4 percent; transportation, 4.6 percent; instruction support, 10.1 percent; food service, 4.4 percent; and plant operations, or building maintenance, 14.1 percent.

The Winslow School District spent a total of $4,120 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2010, while a total of $3,673 per student was spent in non-classroom dollars during the same period. That compares to $4,209 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2009, and $3,511 per student in non-classroom spending that same year. For fiscal year 2010, the peer average was $4,066 in classroom dollars and $3,437 in non-classroom dollars, while the state average was $4,253 in classroom dollars and $3,356 in non-classroom dollars.

The report by the auditor general’s office notes that the district spends an average of $745 per student on administration costs. The peer average, for similar districts is $778 per student, while the state average is $721.

Winslow spends $5.88 per square foot for plant operations. Similar school districts spend an average of $5.81 per square foot, while the statewide average is $6.25 per square foot. The district is responsible for a large amount of space per student, however, and has 187 square feet of facilities per pupil, compared to the peer average of 171 and the state average of 146 square feet.

Food service costs the Winslow district $3.11 per meal, a high amount compared to the peer average of $2.53 per meal and the state average of $2.41 per meal. Winslow spends an average of $340 per student on food service.

Winslow school district spends $2.74 per mile on pupil transportation, compared to the peer average of $2.94 per mile and the state average of $3.35 per mile. Miles per rider for Winslow averages 153, compared to a peer average of 297 miles per rider and a state average of 282 miles per rider. The district spends an average of $674 per student on transportation.

According to the report, the Winslow district has a 71 percent graduation rate, compared to the peer average of 80 percent and the state average of 76 percent.

The student to teacher ratio is 16.9, compared to the 15.4 peer average and 17.9 state average.

Joseph City

In the Joseph City Unified School District, per pupil spending has increased by 19 percent over the last five years through the end of fiscal year 2010, according to the state Auditor General.

The district spends 49.6 percent of all funds directly in the classroom. That is down from a previous average of 55 percent. Remaining expenditures are divided up as follows: administration, 11.1 percent; student support, 10.2 percent; transportation, 5.9 percent; instruction support, 3.6 percent; food service, 3.5 percent; and plant operations, or building maintenance, 16.1 percent. The Joseph City School District spent a total of $5,723 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2010, while a total of $5,825 per student was spent in non-classroom dollars during the same period. That compares to $5,548 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2009, and $5,949 per student in non-classroom spending that same year. For fiscal year 2010, the peer average was $5,054 in classroom dollars and $4,833 in non-classroom dollars, while the state average was $4,253 in classroom dollars and $3,356 in non-classroom dollars.

The report by the auditor general’s office notes that the district spends an average of $1,281 per student on administration costs. The peer average for similar districts is $1,447 per student, while the state average is $721.

Joseph City spends $4.22 per square foot for plant operations. Similar school districts spend an average of $5.76 per square foot, while the statewide average is $6.25 per square foot. The district is responsible for a large amount of space per student, however, and has 440 square feet of facilities per pupil, compared to the peer average of 276, and the state average of 146 square feet.

Food service costs the Joseph City district $4.64 per meal, a high amount compared to the peer average of $3 per meal and the state average of $2.41 per meal. Joseph City spends an average of $409 per student on food service.

The Joseph City School District spends $1.35 per mile on pupil transportation, compared to the peer average of $2.53 per mile and the state average of $3.35 per mile. Miles per rider for Joseph City averages 674, compared to a peer average of 375 miles per rider and a state average of 282 miles per rider. The district spends an average of $678 per student on transportation.

According to the report, the Joseph City district has a 98 percent graduation rate, compared to the peer average of 80 percent and the state average of 76 percent.

The student to teacher ratio is 14, compared to the 15.8 peer average and 17.9 state average.

Snowflake

In the Snowflake Unified School District, per pupil spending has increased by 16 percent over the last five years through the end of fiscal year 2010, according to the state Auditor General.

The district spends 59.3 percent of all funds directly in the classroom. That is an increase from a previous average of 58.4 percent. Remaining expenditures are divided up as follows: administration, 8.5 percent; student support, 8.8 percent; transportation, 5.6 percent; instruction support, 2.1 percent; food service, 4.1 percent; and plant operations, or building maintenance, 11.6 percent.

The Snowflake School District spent a total of $4,054 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2010, while a total of $2,777 per student was spent in non-classroom dollars during the same period. That compares to $4,312 per student in the classroom in fiscal year 2009, and $2,940 per student in non-classroom spending that same year. For fiscal year 2010, the peer average was $4,066 in classroom dollars and $3,437 in non-classroom dollars, while the state average was $4,253 in classroom dollars and $3,356 in non-classroom dollars.

The report by the auditor general’s office notes that the district spends an average of $581 per student on administration costs. The peer average for similar districts is $778 per student, while the state average is $721.

Snowflake spends $4.69 per square foot for plant operations. Similar school districts spend an average of $5.81 per square foot, while the statewide average is $6.25 per square foot. The district is responsible for 168 square feet of facilities per pupil, compared to the peer average of 171, and the state average of 146 square feet.

Food service costs the Snowflake district $2.61 per meal, compared to the peer average of $2.53 per meal and the state average of $2.41 per meal. Snowflake spends an average of $282 per student on food service.

The Snowflake School District spends $3.69 per mile on pupil transportation, a high amount compared to the peer average of $2.53 per mile and the state average of $2.94 per mile. Miles per rider for Snowflake averages 325, compared to a peer average of 297 miles per rider and a state average of 282 miles per rider. The district spends an average of $381 per student on transportation.

According to the report, the Snowflake district has a 92 percent graduation rate, compared to the peer average of 80 percent and the state average of 76 percent.

The student to teacher ratio is 20.3, compared to the 17.9 peer average and 17.9 state average.