Students

The mess in Baltimore schools is once again in the news and bears some looking into. There are 77,586 students in the city and the budget is $2.58 billion or $33,253 dollars per student. They have 9,565 teachers and 11,435 staff. The student teacher ratio is 8.1 students per teacher. The schools are 90% minority. In the Minneapolis school district there are 32,722 students and the budget is $654 million dollars or $19,986 per student. They have 2,375 teachers and 3,122 staff. The student teacher ratio is 13.8 students per teacher. The schools are 70% minority. District 196 here in the Southeast suburbs has 29,000 students and the budget is $390 million dollars or $13,482 dollars per student. The have 1,900 teachers and 2,100 staff. The student teacher ratio is 15.2 students per teacher. The district is 40% minority. Parent of students in inner city Minneapolis schools who are serious about education want their students to go to school in the suburbs and here is one reason. Test scores in Baltimore show 8% proficient, in Minneapolis 36% proficient and in the suburbs 54% proficient. This data shows it is not about money or student teacher ratio but other factors.