Hawaii Private vs. Public School Cost

[Chunkster]

Today's local paper had this interesting article on private school enrollment on the Big Island:

http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/loc...te-schools

What really caught my eye was the comparative per head cost of private vs. publis schools in Hawaii. Snipped from the article:

"The average yearly price tag to attend private schools on Hawaii Island was $7,709 in 2015-16, a $42 increase from the year prior.

Statewide, private school tuition averaged $8,633 in 2015-16 — up from $7,535 the year prior. For comparison, per pupil spending among Hawaii public school students was $14,434."

Now looking at this in simplistic terms, we appear to be paying about 80% more for a poorly regarded public school system than it costs to privately educate students. Of course, the fact that the private schools generally produce better results has a lot to do with cherry picking the best students and not doing much in the way of special ed. Still, this has to make one wonder if we couldn't be spending our education tax dollars in better ways that the current public school system.

[Guest]

It is a sad and deliberately overlooked fact that the students and the families they come from is what defines the quality of a school. Private schools can cherry pick students and do not have to deal with disruptive, non-English speaking and special-needs students. The state does not have this option and it is reflected in the cost.

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You can't fix Samsara.

[shockwave rider]

The average cost of private schools is kept down because few of them educate secondary level students. Elementary is relatively cheap to offer, secondary requires more teachers and specialized facilities like science labs, which are more expensive. Private schools also are not required to hire certified teachers, religious based schools often don't even require college degrees, or accept degrees from diploma mill bible colleges.

Excluding special education students makes a huge difference, the state spends a big portion of of the DOE budget on those few students: special ed teachers, speech therapists, physical therapists, reading specialists, mental health caregivers, and self contained classrooms with very low student teacher ratios all run up the average costs of DOE schools. Private schools indeed cherry pick their students, excluding any who might need extra services.

[kalakoa]

private school tuition averaged $8,633 in 2015-16

Parents can't opt-out of the taxes that support DOE, so this tuition is in addition to their share of that tax burden, while also reducing DOE workload.

Like so much of the Hawaii experience, it's "pay twice (for the privilege of paying again)".

[Chunkster]

I did some more research and learned that a more fair comparison would be vs. other states. In that regard, Hawaii public school spending per student is about 40% above the national average and ranks 15th. Nearly all those that spent more were Northeastern states with Illinois and Wyoming being exceptions. When I looked at a variety of ranking studies, Hawaii's public schools consistently placed between 38th and 41st in the most recent measures. Even given the fact that our high living cost skews the expense factor, I still have to wonder if we are getting our money's worth from the public schools.

[leilanidude]

quote:

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Originally posted by Chunkster

I did some more research and learned that a more fair comparison would be vs. other states. In that regard, Hawaii public school spending per student is about 40% above the national average and ranks 15th. Nearly all those that spent more were Northeastern states with Illinois and Wyoming being exceptions. When I looked at a variety of ranking studies, Hawaii's public schools consistently placed between 38th and 41st in the most recent measures. Even given the fact that our high living cost skews the expense factor, I still have to wonder if we are getting our money's worth from the public schools.

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The comparison is quite valid.
In other words, throwing more money at education in Hawaii, is not the answer to better education of the students.

[shockwave rider]

quote:

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Originally posted by leilanidude

quote:

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Originally posted by Chunkster

I did some more research and learned that a more fair comparison would be vs. other states. In that regard, Hawaii public school spending per student is about 40% above the national average and ranks 15th. Nearly all those that spent more were Northeastern states with Illinois and Wyoming being exceptions. When I looked at a variety of ranking studies, Hawaii's public schools consistently placed between 38th and 41st in the most recent measures. Even given the fact that our high living cost skews the expense factor, I still have to wonder if we are getting our money's worth from the public schools.

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The comparison is quite valid.
In other words, throwing more money at education in Hawaii, is not the answer to better education of the students.

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Administrative costs are very high here, there are layers upon layers of administration being supported before the first dollar reaches the actual classroom. According to a recent study (sorry no time to dig up the link) when the cost of living is taken into account Hawaii has the lowest paid teachers in the country and some of the highest paid administrators.

[Guest]

One problem may be that Children need structure and stimulating education both at home and at school. Schools are much like practice, everyone should go to practice "school" but it may be what one does outside of practice "Home" that can create separation from everyone else going to practice. Some Parents need to be involved more at home after school educating their kids with extra projects and lessons. This may be increasingly difficult to accomplish when the parents are working two jobs, divorced, or strung out needing help themselves. jmo

In areas that are poor like Puna's, some children are not able to experience "life within a positive environment" by going outside of the home or home town often enough. Then they go to schools who offer little outside experienced speakers or excursions and opportunities elsewhere. Many children and adults for that matter have a way of learning by a hands on approach. The "dollar" these days both in the home and in schools may be holding some children back from really opening up and learning more. jmo.

Interesting article here on where Hawaii ranks nationally on a few things.
http://pen4rent.com/portfolio/why-does-5...ank-no-50/

[terracore]

One day after picking my daughter up from Keaau high school I asked her how her day was and she said "my school caters to the stupid and the angry. There aren't any resources leftover for the smart kids."

[VancouverIslander]

Do private schools in Hawaii receive any funding from the government? I know they are subsidized in other jurisdictions, as silly as that may seem.

Me ka ha`aha`a,
Mike