GA Dept of Ed Gives Evans Co. 2.5 Star Financial Efficiency Rating, Grade of 65.3

Second Chance Academy spending is double per pupil than traditional students

Overall, per pupil expenditures dropped despite the property tax increase in 2017

The Georgia Department of Education released Financial Efficiency Star Ratings for schools and school districts in Georgia on Thursday, the fourth release of Financial Efficiency Star Ratings for districts, and the first release for individual schools.

The Financial Efficiency Star Rating provides a measure of a district’s per-pupil spending in relation to the academic achievements of its students. Specifically, the rating is based on a three-year average of per-pupil spending, which is then associated with the district’s CCRPI score. Each district receives a rating ranging from one half-star to five stars; a five-star district can be described as having strong academic outcomes and lower levels of expenditures in comparison with other districts.

State law requires that the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, in coordination with the Georgia Department of Education, create a financial efficiency rating. The rating must be based upon five stars.

Evans county received 2.5 stars out of five stars on the financial efficiency rating with a 2018 per pupil expenditure decrease, despite the recent tax increase at the local level in 2017 for the 2018 tax year. Additionally, the Second Chance Academy spending was nearly double that of the traditional student spending. (See chart below.)

On the financial efficiency single score rating, Evans County was given a 2018 score of 65.3, a decrease from 68.3 in 2017 and 69.8 in 2016.

The Georgia Department of Education also evaluated the schools individually:
(If you cannot see all 9 columns, scroll down to the PDF below the chart)

Below is a breakdown of the school local and state expenditures versus the federal expenditures in 2018 versus 2017.

The Evans County School System does not respond to requests for comment from AllOnGeorgia, but you can view all the documents from the Georgia Department of Education here.