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The Research
The figures below try to best convey the expenditure gap from high school-to-high school and how this affects the educational outcomes students experience. This topic was specifically chosen due to its direct impact on the ability to become qualified members of the white-collar workforce, while also being directly related to financial background.
While this topic holds great personal weight, the research conducted aims to be as objective and unbiased as possible. The purpose of pursuing and conveying such figures lies within a fight to change the way schools are funded and how education approaches financial differences. Closing the gap between student starting points will work to even the playing field in the workforce, allowing individuals from all financial backgrounds the opportunity to pursue the life they choose.
Research: Educational Outcomes
What the teachers say (a survey of K-12 educators):
- Over 60% of teachers feel that higher salary is the best way to attract and retain prospective educators
- Less than 60% of educators felt the curricula provided to them was of enough quantity, high quality, and culturally relevant for their student population
- 87% of teachers agree the role of a classroom teacher has too many responsibilities, causing a downslide in effectiveness
PPE:
- PPE stands for per pupil expenditure, the amount of money a school spends in total for a given academic year divided by its number of students
- Public schools are funded through community taxes (less money in a lower-income community) and state-specific funding, which is determined by district enrollment, student characteristics (i.e. standardized test scores), and community wealth
Numbers on PPE and Educational Outcomes:
- In the state of Michigan, public high school PPE ranges from $29,918 to $7,866 as of 2021
- 65% of high-income school (no students qualify for free/reduced lunch) graduates immediately enroll in a college/university
- 49% of low-income school (at least 50% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch) graduates immediately enroll in a college/university, not counting students who did not complete their high school education
- In the state of Michigan, the average tuition at a private high school is $11,976 per year
- Private high schools have a graduation rate of 96.4%
- 94.9% of private school students immediately enroll in a college/university
- Public high schools have a graduation rate of 86%
- 52.2% of public school students immediately enroll in a college/university
Below is a comparison of two real high schools in the state of Michigan, displaying the drastic differences in experience and outcome.
School A
- 1.5 miles away from School B
- Public ($7,866 PPE)
- 1,030 students
- 18:1 student-to-teacher ratio
- 3% white, 48% hispanic, 49% black, <1% other
- 74% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch
- 60% graduation rate
- 30% of students move on to some form of secondary education
- 0 AP/IB courses
- 10 sports
School B
- 1.5 miles away from and within the district lines of School A
- Private ($19,700 tuition per year)
- 1,050 students
- 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio
- 87% white, 5% hispanic, 4% black, 4% other
- 74% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch
- 100% graduation rate
- 100% of students move on to some form of secondary education
- 36 AP/IB courses
- 31 sports
Sources
Bouchrika, Imed. (2023, October 1). "101 American School Statistics: 2023 Data, Trends & Predictions." Research.com. Click here.
Educators for Excellence. (2023). "Voices From the Classroom 2023: A Survey of America's Educators." Click here.
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (2021, December 1). "National College Progression Rates." Click here.
Niche.com. (2023). "School Search." Click here.
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy. (2023). School website. Click here.
Pontiac School District. (2023). School website. Click here.
Private School Review. (2023). "Michigan Private Schools By Tuition Cost." Click here.
School and Student Services. (2023, February 1). "Are Private Schools Ahead of Public Schools in 2023?" Community Brands. Click here.
Summers, Kathryn. (2019, February). "The Basics of School Funding." Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency. Click here.
United States Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. (2021). "Per Pupil Expenditures: Michigan." Click here.
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