Tornado Alley (PROG)

[dukeb]

Property taxes don't tell the full picture in every instance.

Link to Wikipedia entry for New Jersey's Abbott school districts

Since the Abbott original ruling in 1985, New Jersey increased spending such that Abbott district students received 22% more per pupil (at $20,859) vs. non-Abbott districts (at $17,051) in 2011.[3] 60% of New Jersey's education aid goes to the Abbotts.[4]

One evaluation concluded that the effect on academic achievement in Abbott districts was greater in lower grades and declined in subsequent grades, until there was no effect in high school.

I know people who worked in some of the schools that have the worst educational outcomes. The time and money spent on things like security and repairing vandalism is astronomical. In addition, the overall lack of discipline among students in academics and behavior is very high. Parental involvement (for reasons that can be debated) is, on average, low.

The end result is that the best teachers refuse to work in these districts. They get burned out by the students' lack of interest in learning. I even know several teachers and other district workers who were physically threatened by students.

Without a solid foundation of support from parents/guardians the students who schools in bad areas don't have a chance.

And money alone won't fix that.