Tahoma rated as top learning investment

Tahoma School District has earned a reputation for academic excellence and is among the top 10 percent among Washington school districts on annual state assessments. But a new, independent examination of school districts throughout the state and the entire nation indicates that Tahoma also is among the best at providing a great education for each dollar spent.

The Center for American Progress examined information from public school districts with grades kindergarten through 12 and have enrollments larger than 250 students. The report examined districts in 46 states, looking for data that shows the relationship between how much money is spent per pupil and what learning is achieved, as measured by standardized tests. The evaluation is called Return on Investment. In Tahoma's case, the return on investment is among the highest in the state.

According to the research by the Center for American Progress, Tahoma spends a net average of $6,223 per student (based on 2008 data) per year. The return on investment is rated very high, because Tahoma spends less than most districts while its student test scores are high.

While there is no agreed-upon method or criteria to evaluate a school district’s effectiveness, the research presented by the CAP is intended “to spark a national dialogue about educational productivity,” according to the organization's Web site. “By productivity, we mean how much learning a district produces for every dollar spent, after controlling for factors such as cost of living and students in poverty,” according to the CAP Web site.
To see the full report, go to the Tahoma Web page or directly to the Center for American Progress Web page.