Does School District Spending per Student Impact the Literacy Performance Level?
The Literacy and Mathematics maps represent district-level classifications based on total enrollment and performance on the Benchmark and End-of-Course Exams. Districts with a percentage of students proficient higher than the state average are colored green, and those with a lower proficiency rate are colored red. The shade of the color represents the amount spent per student: the lighter the shade, the smaller the amount spent per student for education.
Methodology
For each district, the total number of non-mobile students proficient on the 4th, 6th, 8th Grade Benchmark Exam and the Algebra, Geometry, and Literacy End-of-Course exams was identified. This number was divided by the total number of non-mobile students in the district attempting these exams to produce a district-level Percent Proficient for both literacy and mathematics. This methodology was repeated at the state level to determine the Arkansas Mean Percent Proficient in both Literacy and Mathematics. For each subject area, the Percent Proficient for district was compared to the Arkansas Mean Percent Proficient and the district was categorized as above (green) or below (red) the state mean.
Additionally, school districts were categorized by amount spent per student within the school district. If a school district spent $400 or more below the Arkansas average per student, it was assigned a light shade. If a school district spent from $400 below to $400 above the Arkansas average per student, it was assigned a moderate shade. Finally, if a school district spent more than $400 above the Arkansas average per student it is was assigned a dark shade. Separate maps have been generated for 2003 and 2004.
Examples
1) A school district performing below the Arkansas Mean Percent Proficient which spent $400 or more less than the Arkansas average per student will be colored light red on the map.
2) A school district performing above Arkansas Mean Percent Proficient which spent more than $400 per student above the Arkansas average will be colored dark green on the map.
Interpretation of the Literacy and Mathematics Maps
Currently financial data are only available for 2003 and 2004. The 2005 map will be added as soon as the data become available. One immediate trend to observe is the increase in the number of higher per student spending districts across the state. This reflects, in part, the increased school funds provided by the state. Between 2003 and 2004 a number of districts changed from lighter colors to darker colors reflecting increased per student spending. Although this occurs across the state, it is especially noticeable in the Delta region and below Interstate 30. In 2004 there are more districts spending more than $6,340 per student and have below state average performance in literacy and mathematics (dark red versus dark green) than there were in 2003.
|
