The information
provided in this publication was reported by state education agency
officials to the (NCES) for
the Common Core of Data (CCD). It relates to student membership in
public schools and school districts in the United States and outlying
areas during the 1998-1999 school year, and to revenues and expenditures
for fiscal year 1997.
- The 100 largest
public school districts, representing less than 1 percent (0.6)
of all school districts in the nation, were responsible for the
education of 22.9 percent of all public school students (table A).
- The 100 largest
districts employed 20.6 percent of the nation's public school teachers,
and accounted for 16.6 percent of all public schools and 18.9 percent
of public high school graduates (table A).
- The 100 largest
school districts had larger school sizes than the average school
district (705 compared to 510). In addition to larger school sizes,
the 100 largest school districts also had a higher mean pupil/teacher
ratio, 18.3 to 1 compared to 16.5 to 1 for the average school district
(table A).
- Three states,
Florida, Texas, and California, accounted for about 40 percent of
the 100 largest school districts (appendix D).
- The proportion
of minority students in the 100 largest school districts was 66.9
percent compared to 38.8 percent in all school districts (table C).
- Among schools
that reported free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, 52 percent
of the students in the 100 largest school districts were eligible
for free and reduced-price lunch compared to 38 percent of all students
in reporting states (table C).
- In fiscal
year 1997 (1996-1997 school year), current expenditures per pupil
in the 100 largest school districts ranged from a low of $2,902
in the Puerto Rico Department of Education to a high of $11,578
in Newark School District, New Jersey (table 10).
- While the
numbers of students, teachers and schools has increased between
1988-1989 and 1998-1999, the proportion of the national total that
the 100 largest school districts comprised was essentially unchanged
(table D).
Author:
Beth Aronstamm Young
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