Date: Fri 10-Nov-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

schools-profile-state

Full Text:

School Profile Shows Newtown Still Spends Less

B Y A MY D'O RIO

The latest stats and facts on the school district are out. They show that

Newtown still spends less than many other school districts, and yet manages to

be competitive with comparable districts on test scores.

The Strategic School District Profiles for 1994-95 contain test data, budget

information, and general statistics about the schools, all accompanied by

comparison data from around the state. There is a profile for each school.

Copies are available at the individual schools and the Board of Education

office.

As in years past, the profiles show Newtown still falls below state averages

on the number of instructional hours the district provides its elementary

school students.

The middle school figure was low as well compared to state averages, but

school officials have investigated and found its reporting method faulty. The

real figure, school officials say, is far above state average.

In 1994-95, the profile says Newtown Middle School provided 948 instructional

hours, while comparable districts provided an average of 981 hours. The

statewide average was 969 hours.

Les Weintraub, Newtown Middle School's principal, said Newtown Middle School

students actually had 982 hours of instruction.

When calculating the hours, the school took out 12 minutes more than it should

have for travel to class. For four periods a day, students stay in one

classroom, which eliminates the need for the deducting time to pass between

classes.

The elementary schools have consistently clocked fewer instructional hours

than other districts from 1991-92 school year to the 1994-95 school year. The

elementary schools averaged 937 to 941 instructional hours per year, while

similar districts averaged 950 to 970 hours and the state average has been

between 954 and 967.

In 1994-95, Newtown's elementary school averaged 937 instructional hours;

comparable elementary schools averaged 955 hours. The statewide average was

957 hours. This works out to about six fewer minutes each day.

A notable change in the profile this year is the decrease in the drop-out

rate.

Dr Reed said the high school staff has been working to keep these students in

school. As a result, Newtown's drop-out rate is lower than comparable

communities' for the first time since 1991.

From the fall of 1993 to 1994, 1.5 percent of the high school students dropped

out of high school. The state average was 4.8 percent, and the average among

comparable districts was 1.7 percent.

Newtown's drop-out rate decreased from 1992-93, when it was 2.6 percent.

Another notable change is the widening gap between what Newtown spends per

student, and the statewide average.

Newtown has been below the statewide average, but each year the gap widens,

with the state figure growing at a faster rate.

In 1990-91, the gap between Newtown's per pupil expenditure and the statewide

average was $241 per student.

In 1993-94, the gap widened to $626 per student. In 1993-94, Newtown's per

pupil expenditure was $7,388 and the statewide average was $8,014.