For D.C. Schools, More Money Does Not Mean Better Quality
Educating a public school student in the Washington, D.C., region costs taxpayers about 45 percent more than it did in 2002, according to district budget figures, with that robust influx of dollars funding only modest gains in student performance.
The region's per-student expenditure was about $14,240 in 2009, using comparable numbers from D.C. Public Schools, Montgomery and Prince George's county schools, and Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria City schools. In 2002, it was about $9,800.
It's true that spending has increased in Virginia and Maryland as well as D.C., but in the nation's capitol, at least, all that extra taxpayer money hasn't prevented the school system from being ranked as one of the worst (if not the worst) in the country. Just goes to show that money doesn't solve everything. Apparently, D.C. has yet to recognize that fact. And until they do, taxpayers will be paying the price.
Reason's archive on D.C. public schools here.
