 |
| :: NORMES Submenu :: |
| current research |
| ask the researchers |
| enterprise guide |
| school performance |
| gaps series |
| alert series |
 |
Are School District Size and Per Student Expenditures Associated with Student Performance?Literacy Performance Level Districts below State
Average Spending Mathematics performance level Districts below
State Average Spending MethodologyFor 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 enrollment size. If a school district had less than 500 students, it was assigned a light shade. If a school district contained between 500 and 999 students, it was assigned a moderate shade. Finally, if a school district had 1,000 or more students, it was assigned a dark shade. For the series of four graphs, analysis was separated based on districts spending less than the Arkansas average per student and districts spending greater than the Arkansas average per student. These two groupings were then analyzed based on literacy and mathematics performance, producing a total of four graphs: (1) Below the Arkansas average per student spending on literacy performance, (2) Below the Arkansas average per student spending on mathematics performance, (3) Above the Arkansas average per student spending on literacy performance, (4) Above the Arkansas average per student spending on mathematics performance.ExamplesIn any of the four charts, identify if the districts are spending below or above the Arkansas average per student. 1) A school district performing below the Arkansas Mean Percent Proficient which enrolls less than 500 students that is will be colored light red on the map. 2) A school district performing above Arkansas Mean Percent Proficient which enrolls 1000 or more students will be colored dark green on the map.Interpretation of the Literacy and Mathematics MapsAn overwhelming trend from these graphical representations is that school districts spending less than the Arkansas average tend to out perform those school districts spending more per student than the Arkansas average. In part, this may be related to the fact that many of those school districts performing below expectations academically are already receiving additional financial support for their school systems. However, alternatively, it may be representative of a greater systemic problem associated with general instructional trends which suggests that increased funding doesn't necessarily improve student achievement. Something also supported by the lack of discernable trends in funding versus performance analyses already completed. In closing, in several of the lowest performing school districts, the amount of spending per student is already in excess of Arkansas averages with limited evidence of greater performance.
Literacy Performance Level Districts below State
Average Spending Mathematics performance level Districts below
State Average Spending |
| © NORMES 2008 | All rights reserved | Contact Web Administrator |
