Relationships between District Size, Socioeconomics, Expenditures, and Student Achievement in Washington

Vince Diaz

doi:10.35608/ruraled.v29i3.464

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the relationship between district size, socioeconomic status, actual levy percentages, and their predictive influence on the 2003 Washington Assessment of Student Learning results for 4th and 7thgrade students in Reading and Mathematics. The convenient sample was 82 Washington State 2nd-Class school districts with enrollments between 500-2,000 students. The results indicated: (a) no significant correlations between achievement anddistrict size; (b) socioeconomic status was the best predictor of achievement; and (c) actual levy percentages and student outcomes were significantly correlated in the positive direction.

Highlights

The purpose of this state study was to: (a) to explore relationships between district size and student achievement; and (b) to explore relationships between socioeconomic status and student achievement; and (c) to explore relationships between district financial resources allocation as measured by actual levy percentages and student achievement in Washington State 2nd class school districts
Four research questions were investigated to explore the relationship among district size, socioeconomic status, actual levy percentages, and student achievement on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL): 1. What is the relationship between student achievement and district enrollment size?
In the final quantitative analysis, multiple linear regression procedures produced strong evidence that the socioeconomic status of the district was the predominant predictor of student performance on the 2003 WASL Reading and Mathematics subtests for 4th and 7th graders in Washington State 2nd class school districts

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this state study was to: (a) to explore relationships between district size and student achievement; and (b) to explore relationships between socioeconomic status and student achievement; and (c) to explore relationships between district financial resources allocation as measured by actual levy percentages and student achievement in Washington State 2nd class school districts. Washington school districts with enrollment parameters below 2,000 are classified as second-class school districts (Revised Code of Washington 28A.300.065). Eighty-two Washington school districts met the enrollment parameters between 500 to 2,000 students for this study. The sample of districts represented approximately 28% of the total number of 296 school districts in Washington State. Western Washington counties were represented by forty districts and likewise, Eastern Washington counties were represented by the other 42 school districts. The eastern demarcation for Washington State is considered east of the Cascades mountain range

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion