How equitable is funding for Columbus area school districts? New study shows GA rankings
The Columbus area has mixed results in a new study by personal finance website WalletHub trying to measure equity in funding of school districts.
Out of 179 Georgia school districts, here are WalletHub’s rankings from most equitable to least in the Columbus area:
- 6. Marion County
- 43. Troup County
- 46. Muscogee County
- 56. Meriwether County
- 89. Talbot County
- 135. Stewart County
- 169. Harris County
- 170. Chattahoochee County.
WalletHub based the rankings on average household income and expenditures for public schools per pupil, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics, according to the study’s methodology.
For expenditures, starting with a base score of 50 points for each school district, WalletHub subtracted 1 point for each 1% the district was above the state average.
For household income, starting with a base score of 50 points for each school district, WalletHub added 1 point for each 1% above the state average.
The inverse was true for each 1% below the state average on each metric.
The final score for each school district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the expenditures score and the household income score. The districts were then ranked by their total score, with the lower scores being more equitable.
Lowndes County tops the Georgia rankings, with a score of 0.08 for per-pupil expenditures of $9,931 and average household income of $58,623. City Schools of Decatur is at the bottom, with a score of 144.12 for per-pupil expenditures of $13,744 and average household income of $114,615.
Here are the scores and metrics for school districts in the Columbus area:
- 1.62 Marion County per pupil expenditures of $11,219 and average household income of $52,450.
- 11.06 Troup County per pupil expenditures of $11,450 and average household income of $46,796.
- 11.53 Muscogee County per pupil expenditures of $11,404 and average household income of $46,749.
- 13.15 Meriwether County per pupil expenditures of $12,656 and average household income of $40,769.
- 19.60 Talbot County per pupil expenditures of $16,784 and average household income of $40,020.
- 29.99 Stewart County per pupil expenditures of $19,486 and average household income of $34,028.
- 52.78 Harris County per pupil expenditures of $11,144 and average household income of $79,860.
- 55.75 Chattahoochee County per pupil expenditures of $11,346 and average household income of $24,961.
The research shows the state average in per-pupil expenditures among Georgia school districts is approximately $12,000, and the state average for household income among Georgia school districts is approximately $50,000, WalletHub communications manager Diana Polk told the Ledger-Enquirer.
So WalletHub is saying the state should give more funding to those school districts with lower incomes to make up for that gap and be more equitable in education.
“People earn less, so school expenditures should be higher to compensate,” Polk said in an email to the L-E.
Georgia ranks No. 19 on WalletHub’s 2022 ranking of states with the most and least equitable school districts.
Iowa is No. 1.
New York is No. 50.
This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 11:20 AM.
