PER PUPIL FUNDING

What Was Measured?
Expenditures per Annual Average Daily Attendance (ADA) were measured for public schools in San Mateo County between the years 1992-93 and 1994-95.

Why Is This Important?
We rely on the schools to produce good citizens with the basic skills necessary to participate and succeed in our society. The amount of resources we allocate for education shows our commitment to future generations. Adequate funding allows the District to provide updated curriculum and maintain competitive salaries for teachers, creating a high quality education system and a positive learning environment.

What Was Found?
Total expenditures per annual ADA have increased every year since 1992-3, rising most significantly to $4,544 in 1993-94.  High school districts in San Mateo County have shown the largest increase in expenditures, followed by elementary and unified school districts.  The elementary school district with the lowest annual ADA expenditures during 1994-95 was Laguna Salada, which spends $3,756 per annual ADA, compared to Woodside, which spent $7,082.  High school expenditures per annual ADA were not as varied, with Sequoia spending $6,424 per annual ADA, the highest, while Jefferson had the lowest expenditures per annual ADA with $5,003.

What Is The Trend?
In comparison with other states, California ranked 34" in annual expenditures per ADA in 1990-91, dropping to 39"' in 1993-94 (1 being the state with the highest expenditures).  The state Department of Education estimates that California will rank 42,d during 1994-95. with annual ADA expenditures falling over $ 1 000 below the national average.

Financial Statistical Report, San Mateo County School Districts, 1993-94 and 1994-95, San Mateo County Office of Education.

Researcher: Carla Bagneschi