Jefferson school spending among the state's lowest

The Jefferson City School System is the second thriftiest school district in the state, according to recently released data from FY2011.

Last year, Jefferson spent just $6,651 per student ranking it just behind the Chickamauga City School System, which spent $6,450 per student.

The Commerce City School System was the highest of the three school systems in Jackson County at $8,691 per student, ranking it at number 76 in the state.

The Jackson County School System spent $8,600 per student in FY2011, ranking it 83rd in the state.

Both the Commerce and Jefferson systems have small districts and consequently their per student transportation costs were low compared to larger districts. The state average for transportation was $418 per student while Commerce spent only $206 per student and Jefferson $189 per student.

On the other hand, the Jackson County system covers a large geographic area and its per student cost was above the state average at $458.

The main reason the Commerce system had high spending per student overall was its general administrative, school administrative expenses and maintenance and operations expenses were far above the state average.

The Jackson County system had high staff services expenses at $501 per student and its maintenance and operation expense was also high. The system’s general administrative expense was below the state average at $346 per student, but its school administrative expense was above the state average.

To see a chart of area school spending, see the Jan. 25 print of e-edition of The Jackson Herald.