Schools

Report Card Shows SP-F Schools Spend Less Per Student Than State Average

The report cards also reveal students' performance on state tests.

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District spent less money per pupil than the state average last year, according to the annual School Report Cards released last week by the state Department of Education.

SP-F spent $13,759 per pupil during the 2008-2009 school year, compared to the state average of $15,168. Factors taken into consideration include, but are not limited to, classroom instructional costs, support services, administrative costs and equipment.

The School Report Cards are compiled each year to show the public how their schools are doing.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In addition to comparing a district's cost to the state average, the report also reveals how the district compares to other districts of a similar budget type. In that category (which does not encompass all of the expenses considered under the comparison to the state at large), SP-F spent $11,973 per pupil, compared to $13,601 at similar districts. Westfield's costs in this category came in at $11,781; Cranford's at $12,646; and Summit's at $13,753.

SP-F's per pupil costs have come in slightly below the state average for the past three school years, but continue to rise by a few hundred dollars each year. In 2006-2007, the district spent $13,007 per pupil. That number rose to $13,238 in 2007-2008, and now to $13,759 for 2008-2009.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other information revealed in the State Report Cards includes students' performance on state tests.

At the elementary school level, 82.1 percent of third graders scored at least proficient in language arts and 80 percent in math on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) test. In fourth grade, 84.7 percent scored at least proficient in language arts; 86.1 percent in math; and 94.5 percent in science.

At the middle schools, 83.1 percent of fifth graders scored at least proficient in language arts and 92.5 percent in math on NJASK. In sixth grade, 86.8 percent of students were at least proficient in language arts and 87.5 were in math. For seventh grade, 88.5 were at least proficient in language arts and 87.6 were in math. Eighth grade: 92.4 percent were at least proficient in language arts, 83.9 percent were in math, and 89.8 percent were in science.

At the high school level, 91.6 percent of students scored at least proficient in language arts on the High School Proficiency Assessment test, with 17.9 percent of those being advanced. In mathematics, 87.4 percent of students scored at least proficient, with 44.8 percent of those being advanced.

The State Report Card also reveals SAT scores for students at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. During 2008-2009, students scored an average of 558 on mathematics, 512 on verbal, and 517 on essay. In comparison, the District's Factor Group scored 574 on mathematics, 549 on verbal and 553 on essay.

Eighty percent of SPFHS graduates went on to a 4-year college/university in 2009. The school had a 99.2 percent graduation rate, compared to 99.7 percent in 2008 and 100 percent in 2007.


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