Equity In MA Schools: Where Somerville Ranks

SOMERVILLE, MA — A new ranking attempts to evaluate equity in school districts across Massachusetts by comparing per-pupil spending to local income.

The ranking, created by the personal finance website WalletHub, probes whether wealthier school districts are spending more money per student than poorer districts. Wealthier towns, including Dover, Weston, Wellesley and Wayland, all appeared near the bottom of the ranking.

But some less wealthy districts, like Chelsea and Worcester, also ranked low on the list due to a combination of below-average per-student spending and low household income.

To create the list, WalletHub looked at the average household income and the average per-pupil expenditure in each school district. Each district was given a base score of 50 points. For each 1 percent above the state average per-pupil spend, one point was deducted from the base score. One point was added for each 1 percent above the state's average median income.

Statewide, the average per-pupil spend was about $16,500 as of December, according to the state Department of Education. The state calculates the per-pupil spend by dividing a district's budget by the number of full-time enrolled students. The median household income in Massachusetts is about $77,378, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The most equitable district in the state, the North Shore's Pentucket Regional School District, had a per-pupil spend of $15,791 and a median income of $100,785. Dover Public Schools came in last with a per-pupil spend of $21,900 and median income at $224,784.

Somerville Public Schools ranked 106th in equity in the state, spending $20,690 per pupil with a median household income of $91,168.

There are other measures to assess equity in Massachusetts schools.

The state DOE equity plan focuses on reducing teacher turnover, and training newer teachers. According to the state, low-income students have nearly double the rate of first-year teachers as high income students. Poorer students also have a higher rate of teachers rated as "needs improvement/unsatisfactory."

Equity is at the forefront of education discussions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Issues like food insecurity, special education, and access to technology have all been exacerbated by the pandemic, according to the Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership. School districts with less money may have trouble providing adequate education to students who are learning remotely either full or part-time.

Here's a look at where local school districts ranked on WalletHub's list (rankings are overall in the state):

• No. 4 Arlington, $14,603 per student with a $107,085 median household income
• No. 60 Boston, $24,177 per student with a $65,883 median household income
• No. 64 Medford, $19,333 per student with a $92,363 median household income
• No. 106 Somerville, $20,690 with a $91,168 median household income
• No. 212 Malden, $14,928 with a $64,178 median household income
• No. 224 Everett, $14,996 with a $60,482 median household income
• No. 272 Cambridge, $29,435 with a $95,404 median household income