Beaufort County spends $15,240 to educate each public school child, highest spending level in state
Beaufort County’s public school spending at highest in state
At $15,240 per student, Beaufort County’s spending is the highest spending of any large school district in South Carolina, according to a study recently concluded by The Voice for School Choice, an initiative of South Carolinians for Responsible Government (SCRG).
The Beaufort County School District spends more money per pupil, 35% higher than the state average and almost 100% higher than the average in neighboring North Carolina, to educate children than any other school district in the state except two specially subsidized districts in small, rural, poverty-stricken Fairfield and McCormick counties that spend as much.
In general spending is less per student in high-population counties because the costs of administration can be spread over more students. This is not the case in Beaufort County, according to the study. The figures reported do not include capital costs of bond issues for school construction.
Money for public schools comes from three sources (local, state, and federal taxes) and filters down to the classroom through a convoluted array of “programs” and “categories” leaving just 43 cents per dollar for classroom instruction.
The figures are based on projections published last month by SCRG. In fiscal year 2009-10 the Beaufort County School District is projected to have 18,425 students. The per student funding is projected to be $1,379 state, $1,703 federal, and $12,157 local. This is a total projected funding level of $15,240 excluding revenues of local bond issues.
Public schools across South Carolina will be funded at an average of $11,242 per child this year compared to just $8,500 last year in neighboring North Carolina, a state with a much higher record of student test achievement. Thus, South Carolina’s public schools, and especially Beaufort County’s public schools, are getting far less in results from school spending than neighboring North Carolina’s public schools. In fact, Beaufort County is spending almost twice as much per student as the average spending in North Carolina ($15,240 vs. $8,500) .
South Carolinians for Responsible Government is a statewide grassroots non-profit organization located in Columbia that supports efforts to make government more efficient and accountable. Its school choice initiative presents statistics and other information regarding the need for expanding educational opportunities and options to parents and students in South Carolina. According to Neil Mellen, communications director for SCRG, the best way to reform the system is to give parents a greater say in how and where their children are educated.
Related posts:
- Ethnic composition of Beaufort County public schools released
- Editorial: Beaufort County School District ignores Riverview Charter School
- School district acknowledges role of The Beaufort Tribune in informing public
- Editorial comment: Beaufort County School District flunks “transparency” test
- Quarter billion dollar county and school budgets to be adopted on Monday
