[theBuckwheat]

>>
By 2005 (the latest data), that number had dropped to 12 percent...
<<

For those who are able, let's do some math.

In the Washington, DC school system, I recently read that the average per pupil expenditure was $13,000 per year. Putting aside if that includes the entire costs such as the capital for the buildings, that implies if a youth stays in the system all 12 years and there is no inflation, it costs a staggering $156,000 for his education.

But it gets worse: If only 12% of graduates are proficient at their grade level, it then costs $156,000 / 0.12 = $1.3 Million to graduate a single youth who is proficient.

!!!

How big will this number have to get before the public will allow alternatives to the current government school model?

[patton]

Your DC cost numbers are too low, and you have neglected to factor in the appalling graduation rate (can't remember the number, but it is less than 50%). Thus, your cost per profficient graduate is probably about five times what you calculated.

[patton]

Sorry, the graduation rate (% of entering 8th graders recieving diplomas four years later) for DC is 59%.

http://www.torres4bpt.com/pdf/cr_baeo.pdf

[Bob]

Putting aside if that includes the entire costs such as the capital for the buildings,...

Most school district budgets that I've seen maintain two separate accounts: The 'operating budget', paid with annual tax income, generally doesn't include the 'infrastructure costs', paid with long-term bond measures.

Doing this understates the true total cost but does make some sense from an accounting perspective. You still own the building for many years after you've pi$$ed away each year's operating budget.