About the Data
Public School Districts
Information about public school districts is based largely on responses to a survey sent to superintendents last fall by The Inquirer. Data are for 2007-08, unless noted otherwise. Some information was provided by the Departments of Education in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
NR (Not Reported). Used when a district did not provide data.NA (Not Applicable). Used when the information does not apply to the district.
Special education and gifted. The percent of students enrolled in special education and "gifted and talented" programs.
Private schools. Estimated percent of school-age children in the district who are enrolled in nonpublic schools.
Charter school students. Number of students living in the district who are enrolled in charter schools.
Kindergarten. Many districts now offer expanded kindergarten programs including full-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. In some cases, enrollment is limited.
Elementary language. Whether the district offers a world language at the elementary level.
Math specialists. Whether the district employs math specialists to advance math instruction.
Second-grade class size. Average class size, as reported by the district.
Cost per student. The data are for 2006-07 current expenditures which reflect classroom spending. Excluded are costs such as construction and debt service. Quintiles were calculated separately for Pennsylvania and New Jersey districts.
Tax burden (Pa. only). Relative tax burden is calculated by dividing total school taxes by the market value of real estate in the district for 2006-07. The quintiles show how a district's tax burden compares with that of others in the five-county Philadelphia region. A district in the top 20 percent would be in the 1st quintile, indicating one of the heaviest tax burdens.
% state revenue (N.J. only). The percent of revenue coming from the state for 2006-07.
Teachers. Number of classroom teachers.
Teacher salaries. Beginning and top salaries for 2007-08 were provided by the districts. Top teacher salaries are calculated from state data for 2006-07. For Pennsylvania districts, the table shows the percent of teachers earning over $75,000. For New Jersey districts, the table shows the percent earning over $65,000.
Editor's note: These districts did not respond to the survey despite several requests: Beverly City, Clayton, Mount Holly, New Hanover, Palmyra, Woodland. For those districts, some information was taken from state data.
Quintiles
- 1st (top 20% of districts)
- 2d (top middle 20%)
- 3d (middle 20%)
- 4th (bottom middle 20%)
- 5th (bottom 20%)
Public High Schools
Information about public high schools came from a survey distributed by The Inquirer last fall. Data are for the 2007-08 academic year, unless noted.NR (Not Reported). Used when a school did not provide information.
NA (Not Applicable). Used when a category does not apply to the school, including those with no senior class in 2006-07.
