Prep School Student - $373,841 = Public School Student: The Ugly Math of Per Pupil Spending in the US

Some of the deepest schisms in the U.S. between the haves and the haves-not stem from disparities in resources between schools and as a result of which schools our children attended.

These disparities are deeply rooted and seemingly intractable, and yet there is hope that they can be checked, reduced, or even eliminated - by us*. This week and next, we will take a brief look at examples of three of the more prominent resource disparities in education, and explore what we might learn from innovative organizations helping under-served communities overcome similar barriers in other contexts.

Disparity #1: resource allocation

The amount schools spend per pupil varies significantly. The average expenditure per student at public schools was $8,809 in 2004 fiscal year. At boarding schools, that same figure was $37,566, or four times greater (“At Elite Prep Schools, College-Sized Endowments”). 

How will this difference be made up? 

According to the DonorsChoose model, by nickels and dimes (or if you want a hand-written note, by fifty dollar contributions). DonorsChoose is pioneering citizen philanthropy and showing all of us that we can make a big difference together for classrooms in need.

Is crowd-funding school supplies a viable solution to this resource disparity?

What do you think? 


*As in, all of us.