Are other school systems getting more bang for the buck?

Coweta spends less even with more students, more employees

When it comes to comparing school systems such an exercise can be difficult due to a host of variables. That said, The Citizen decided to look at issues such as budget and the number of schools and employees in each school system.

Comparing school systems is a varied and complicated challenge and one that even the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) avoids. Those difficulties notwithstanding, data shows that Fayette’s budget for FY 2016 exceeds that of Coweta by nearly $5 million while serving 2,000 fewer students in four fewer schools.

In Fayette, the FY 2016 budget has expenditures totaling $184 while expected revenues totaled $180.5 million. Aside from the 10 percent reserve that totals $18.4 million, $3.4 million of the June 30 fund balance of $8.63 million will be used to balance the budget.

In Coweta, the FY 2016 budget shows $178.37 million in revenues and $179.1 million in expenses, a difference of approximately $740,000. That said, the new budget carries a fund equity, including reserves, of $24.85 million.

Fayette has 24 schools and several learning centers with an April enrollment of approximately 20,130.

Coweta has 28 schools and several learning centers with an April enrollment of approximately 22,200.

Fayette has approximately 2,650 full-time equivalent employees, of which approximately 1,400 are classroom teachers.

Coweta has 2,915 full-time employees, of which 1,405 are classroom techers.

By way of illustrating a measure common to all Georgia high schools, the following are the SAT scores released by DOE in October 2014.

SAT scores for 2014 in Fayette showed Starr’s Mill High with an average score of 1,623, McIntosh High with an average score of 1,618, Whitewater High with an average score of 1,537, Sandy Creek High with an average score of 1,485 and Fayette County High with an average score of 1,445.

SAT scores for 2014 in Coweta showed Northgate High with an average score of 1,515, Newnan High with an average score of 1,485 and East Coweta High with an average score of 1,481.