NTF Issue Paper: OPS24.doc.  1-04.
NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS FOR FREEDOM ISSUE PAPER:
COMPARISON AMONG 4 SCHOOL DISTRICTS: PER PUPIL COST & TEST SCORES.

BACKGROUND.  Academic test scores on standardized tests and per pupil costs vary greatly among Nebraska school districts.  Many districts proudly declare that they can educate their students for less than the average state per pupil cost ($7,497) and still achieve higher than state average test scores.  Other districts, like the Omaha Public $chools, blame their continued falling tests scores on insufficient taxpayer funding, though their per pupil costs are near or higher than state average.  The following statistics compare OP$, a metro urban district with $7,491 2001-02 cost per student per average daily attendance, with the Holdrege Public Schools, an urban surrounded by rural district with comparable $7,478 2001-02 cost per student per average daily attendance.  Our statistics further compare the Elkhorn Public Schools, a metro suburban district with $6,599 2001-02 cost per student per average daily attendance, with the McCook Public Schools, a small urban surrounded by rural district with comparable $6,532 2001-02 cost per student per average daily attendance.  All statistical information comes from the NE Dept. of Education, web site www.nde.state.ne.us. 

PART I:
READING.  On standardized reading tests, Holdrege students scored higher for 3 consecutive schools year in all grades tested.  OP$ students scored lower in all grades in 2002-03 than in 2000-01.  Holdrege scores topped OP$ scores up to 25%.  Fewer Holdrege than OP$ students scored below U.S. average for 3 consecutive years tallied. In assessment of state reading standards for Grade 4, the Holdrege overall average was over 20% higher than OP$ in meeting or exceeding state standards.  Holdrege 8^th Graders scored over 5% higher than OP$ counterparts.  Holdrege 12^th Graders scored about 16% higher than OP$ students.  Holdrege students consistently outperformed OP$ pupils in all categories tested.   

MATH.  On standardized math tests, Holdrege pupils scored higher in Grades 3-5 and 7-8 in 2002-03 than in 2000-01.  They scored about 2 points lower in Grade 12.  OP$ students scored lower in all grades in 2002-03 than in 2000-01, Grade 12 over 5 points lower.  Holdrege scores topped OP$ scores up to 25%.  Fewer Holdrege than OP$ students scored below U.S. average for 3 consecutive years tallied.   

WRITING.  In Grade 4, Holdrege students scored over 20 points higher than OP$ counterparts in meeting or exceeding state standards.  20.5% of Holdrege 4^th Graders, compared to 41% of OP$ 4^th Graders, failed to meet state standards.  In Grade 8, Holdrege students scored almost 25 points higher than OP$ counterparts in meeting or exceeding state standards.  25% of Holdrege 8^th Graders, compared to 49% of OP$ 8^th Graders, failed to meet state standards.  In both grades, Holdrege students performed better than state average, fewer of the students falling below proficiency compared to state average; OP$ students the opposite.   

OTHER.  The Holdrege 4-yr. high school graduation rate was higher than state average from 1998-2002.  The OP$ 4-yr. high school graduation rate was lower than state average during these school years and over 20 points lower than Holdrege.  The Holdrege HS senior graduation rate was higher than state average in 2 of the last 4 examined school years; the OP$ HS senior graduation rate was higher than state average only in 1999-2000.  The Holdrege attendance rate was higher than state average since 1992 and as much as 12 points higher than OP$.  The OP$ attendance rate was lower than state average since 1992. The Holdrege student dropout rate has been lower than state average, by as much as 2 points, since 1992.  The OP$ pupil dropout rate has been higher than state average, by as much as 5 points, since 1992.  Holdrege ACT scores were higher than state average since 1999 except during the 2001-02 school year and higher than national scores during this period.  OP$ ACT scores were lower than state average since 1999 and lower than national scores during this entire period.   

CONCLUSION.  Holdrege School District taxpayers pay about the same amount as OP$ taxpayers to educate each of their students, figures closely matching the state average.  Yet, Holdrege schools may rightly congratulate themselves that their students score higher than state average in almost every category of state testing and other benchmarks.  The OP$ school board should feel ashamed of its student scores in the dumpster, yet it voted to sue the state (taxpayers) for more money to educate its students. 

PART II:
READING.  On standardized reading tests, Elkhorn students scored higher after 3 years in Grades 3-5 and 7-8.  Only McCook Grades 10-12 did so.  The greatest above average and below average disparity between the 2 districts was 20 points in Grades 7-8 in 2002-2003.  In assessment of state reading standards for Grade 4, the Elkhorn overall average was about 10 percentages higher than McCook in meeting or exceeding state standards.  The Elkhorn District scored higher points on each of 11 categories except 1.  In Grade 8, the overall averages were about the same, each district exceeding the other in 5 of 10 categories.  In Grade 12, the overall averages were about the same for each district in meeting or exceeding state standards, Mc Cook students outperforming Elkhorn in 5 of 9 categories. 

MATH.   On standardized math tests, Elkhorn pupils in Grades 7-8 performed better in 2002-03 than in 2000-2001 but a little lower in other grades tested.  McCook students in Grades 10-12 performed better in 2002-03 than in 2000-01 and better than Elkhorn peers but much lower than previously in other grades tested, 20% for Grades 7-8.  Elkhorn scored about 2 points lower in Grades 10-12.  The greatest disparity in percentages was 11% higher for Elkhorn in Grades 3-5 and 7-8, in scoring above the national average.  Fewer Elkhorn students than McCook pupils scored below average in Grades 3-5 and 7-8; the reverse in Grades 10-12. 

WRITING.   In Grade 4, Elkhorn students scored only 3 points higher than McCook counterparts in meeting or exceeding state standards.  Both scores were higher than the state average percentage.  22 % of Elkhorn 4^th Graders, compared to 25 % of McCook 4^th Graders, failed to meet state standards, both less than the state average.  In Grade 8, Elkhorn students scored about 14 points higher than McCook counterparts in meeting or exceeding state standards.  12% of Elkhorn 8^th Graders, compared to 26 % of McCook 8^th Graders, failed to meet state standards.  Only the Elkhorn proficiency scores were above state average and lower than the state average for below proficiency.   

OTHER.  Both Elkhorn and McCook 4-yr. high school graduation rates were higher than state average from 1998-2002 and about equal to each other.  Both Elkhorn and McCook HS senior graduation rates were higher than state average every year except one during this period, McCook percentages higher since 1999-2000.   The Elkhorn attendance rate was higher than state average since 1992.  The McCook attendance rate was slightly below state average from 1992-98, then slightly above average in 2002-03.  The Elkhorn and McCook attendance rates matched each other closely.  The Elkhorn and McCook student dropout rates have been lower than state average since 1992 and matched each other closely in 1992-93 and 2001-02.  Elkhorn ACT scores were higher than state average since 1999; McCook scores were higher than state average in 2 of the last 4 years.  Scores from each district closely matched each other during these years and stood at or above the national average. 

CONCLUSION.  Elkhorn School District taxpayers pay about the same amount as McCook taxpayers to educate each of their students, about $1,000 less than the state average, and may rightly congratulate themselves that their students score higher than state average in almost every category of state testing and other benchmarks.  Both districts pay less per pupil than OP$ yet show higher test scores consistently.  These statistics show that more money will not necessarily provide a better education for our children, a rebuff to districts like OP$ that continually blame their academic shortcomings on lack of adequate funding.  See enclosed addenda for test statistics for the 4 school districts.  (Email us for addenda). 

Research, documentation, and analysis for this issue paper done by Doug Kagan and Steve Sfiers.  This material copyrighted by Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, with express prior permission granted for its use by Taxwatchers, Inc., Citizens for Local Control, Cherry County Taxpayers, Dawes County Taxpayers, and other groups in the Tax Freedom Network.   1-04   C