DC per Student Spending
D.C.'s Distinction: $16,344 Per Student, But Only 12% Read Proficiently
First off comparing DC's school spending to a state's spending already shows people are going for an "oh my fucking god school DC spends the most on schools and doesn't do a great job with education thus spending money doesn't help education we should move to a market system" shows the article is written by a biased ass. DC is only a city there aren't rural parts of DC to average out for the expensive costs of running a school in the city. To have fair comparison one must compare DC to Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia or other cities.
Secondly lines like the following also really show the sleight of hand when dealing with figures
D.C.'s public elementary and secondary schools spent a total of $16,334 per student in the 2002-2003 school year, according to a Department of Education study. That compares to the $10,520 tuition at St. John's College High School, a District Catholic school that sends almost all its graduates to four-year colleges.
Note that it explains that it says DC's schools SPENT a total of $16,344 per student while the TUITION at St. John's College High School. Now for those not paying attention, I'm willing to bet that the amount spent per student is more than the tuition given by parents because you see St. John's collects money from their alumni that they then use for education so comparing spending vs tuition is a totally fucked up thing to compare and again goes the lengths that these figures can used to show whatever.
Additionally, I know of plenty of kids who went to private schools in Milwaukee, but didn't go to college. I went to a public high school in Milwaukee, Rufus King, "where over Over 90% of students continue their education after graduation", so a high rate of continuing education is not only a private school phenomenon.
This article is an attempt, of course, to try to use the misguided principles of school voucher as a solution to education, and that argument warrants it's own post.
First off comparing DC's school spending to a state's spending already shows people are going for an "oh my fucking god school DC spends the most on schools and doesn't do a great job with education thus spending money doesn't help education we should move to a market system" shows the article is written by a biased ass. DC is only a city there aren't rural parts of DC to average out for the expensive costs of running a school in the city. To have fair comparison one must compare DC to Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia or other cities.
Secondly lines like the following also really show the sleight of hand when dealing with figures
D.C.'s public elementary and secondary schools spent a total of $16,334 per student in the 2002-2003 school year, according to a Department of Education study. That compares to the $10,520 tuition at St. John's College High School, a District Catholic school that sends almost all its graduates to four-year colleges.
Note that it explains that it says DC's schools SPENT a total of $16,344 per student while the TUITION at St. John's College High School. Now for those not paying attention, I'm willing to bet that the amount spent per student is more than the tuition given by parents because you see St. John's collects money from their alumni that they then use for education so comparing spending vs tuition is a totally fucked up thing to compare and again goes the lengths that these figures can used to show whatever.
Additionally, I know of plenty of kids who went to private schools in Milwaukee, but didn't go to college. I went to a public high school in Milwaukee, Rufus King, "where over Over 90% of students continue their education after graduation", so a high rate of continuing education is not only a private school phenomenon.
This article is an attempt, of course, to try to use the misguided principles of school voucher as a solution to education, and that argument warrants it's own post.
posted by dan at Thursday, March 30, 2006
by C.S. Walton
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1 Comments:
On another note, a private school education guarantees very little. Most of those I went to high school with went on to college, but only some finished. Dropout rate due to pregnancy - I'd guess 10 - 15%. And yes, my high school was private AND religiously affiliated.
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