Whenever test results disclose students are not achieving as expected, the cry is raised for additional spending. Much of this noise comes from the Teachers’ Unions and the Lamestream Media. But is throwing money after the beast any answer?

A resounding NO, according to a recent study conducted by the Chicago Tribune. In that study it was disclosed there seems to be no relation between spending more money and meaningful achievement.

School districts that spend more to educate their students do not necessarily perform better on standardized exams such as the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, a Tribune analysis shows. Charts below show the average amount districts in the Chicago area spent on each of their students in 2000-01 and the overall percentage of 3rd-, 4th- , 5th- and 8th-grade test scores that met or exceeded state standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social science in 2001.:

Rank By Amount Spent School District Amount Spent Per Pupil Percent Passing ISAT 1 Rondout $17,871 79.9 2 Salt Creek $12,990 76.7 3 Butler $12,302 91.4 4 Northbrook Dist. 27 $11,931 87.0 5 Avoca $11,291 88.5 6 Reed Custer $11,257 72.9 7 Niles Elementary $11,122 79.3 8 Lincolnwood $10,922 84.9 9 Bannockburn $10,902 94.3 10 Northbrook Dist. 28 $10,892 91.6

Now that you’ve examined the highest ranked per pupil spenders compared to the percent of their students passing the ISAT, let’s look at the lowest ranked per pupil spenders!

Rank By Amount Spent School District Amount Spent Per Pupil Percent Passing ISAT 227 Channahon $4,888 82.1 228 Homer $4,843 78.5 229 Peotone $4,743 72.7 230 Chaney-Monge $4,741 56.6 231 Taft $4,642 67.1 232 Marengo-Union $4,573 63.3 233 Mokena $4,476 82.7 234 Summit Hill $4,458 79.2 235 Lockport $4,421 72.6 236 Will County $4,082 69.8         State Averages: $7,483 63.1 Chicago Averages: $8,047 38.3

* For 1999-2000, the most recent year that state averages are available. Note: School districts made up only of high schools are not included because those schools do not take the ISAT. Source: Tribune analysis of data provided by Illinois State Board of Education Chicago Tribune

To read the entire Chicago Tribune study, click HERE

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