Philadelphia school children lag behind suburbs because their parents are single, uneducated and unemployed

According to a recent PA Department of Education study entitled “Costing-Out the Resources Needed to Meet Pennsylvania’s Public Education Goals,” Philadelphia public schools—as well as 95% of the state’s 501 school districts—are under funded. The report estimated that it would take $14,131 per pupil to bring every student in Philadelphia up to proficient on state reading and math tests by 2014. Currently, Philadelphia students only receive $9,947 each; they fall short of the recommended spending formula by $4,184.

But will an increase in funding produce the kind of results the “costing-out” report indicates?

Last fall, US NEWS & WORLD REPORT released its annual “America's Best High Schools” list. Philadelphia’s Julia R. Masterman and Chester County’s Conestoga made the top 100. On the honorable mention list were Philadelphia’s Bodine, Central, Carver, and Girls (all special admission schools), as well as Montgomery County’s Lower Merion and Bucks County’s CB East and Bristol high schools.

Of the nine area schools on the list, seven are under funded. Masterman, Bodine, Central, Carver, and Girls are under funded by $4,184 per student. CB East (which spends $8,915 per student) is under funded by $1,486, and Bristol (which spends $11,949 per child) is short on district spending by $2,096.

So what’s the deal? How can some schools perform at high levels with low funds, while others continue to struggle? How does CB East out perform 62 of Philadelphia’s 67 high schools when CB East spends over $1,000 less per student than Philadelphia? Why do Philadelphia’s state test scores continue to lag behind those of their under funded suburban counterparts?

In my opinion, the answer has more to do with community than it does with spending. According to a 2006 survey by the US Census Bureau, 1 in 2 families in Philadelphia are headed by a single parent; 1 in 4 Philadelphians don’t have a high school diploma; 1 in 5 speak a language other than English in their home; 1 in 9 are unemployed; and 1 in 17 aren’t even a US citizen.

When it comes to parenting, education, employment, citizenship and the English language, how does Philadelphia fair in comparison to the suburbs?

Here’s a quick breakdown:

BUCKS COUNTY:
Families headed by two parents: 82.5%
Residents with High School Diploma: 90.7%
Residents with Bachelor’s Degree: 35.2%
Residents Who Speak a Language Other Than English: 9.8%
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
Residents Who Are Not a US Citizen: 3.5%

CHESTER COUNTY:
Families headed by two parents: 83.5%
Residents with High School Diploma: 91.6%
Residents with Bachelor’s Degree: 45%
Residents Who Speak a Language Other Than English: 9.5%
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
Residents Who Are Not a US Citizen: 4.3%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY:
Families headed by two parents: 80%
Residents with High School Diploma: 92.2%
Residents with Bachelor’s Degree: 43.4%
Residents Who Speak a Language Other Than English: 10.5%
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
Residents Who Are Not a US Citizen: 3.7%

PHILADELPHIA:
Families headed by two parents: 51.8%
Residents with High School Diploma: 77.5%
Residents with Bachelor’s Degree: 20.7%
Residents Who Speak a Language Other Than English: 19.8%
Unemployment Rate: 12.4%
Residents Who Are Not a US Citizen: 6.3%

These statistics are eye-opening indeed. They paint a lot clearer picture of the realities of our students’ lives then district spending. Philadelphia’s education advocates should continue to lobby law makers to increase state funding, but they must also rally to get Philadelphians to make better choices with their lives.

Education does not take place in a vacuum. Our city’s school system is only as strong as the community that supports it.