With research showing that low-income students will fall behind their wealthy peers if schools operate remotely due to COVID-19, and a renewed focus on racial equality, WalletHub today released its report on the Most and Least Equitable School Districts in New York. To find out where school funding is distributed most fairly, WalletHub scored the equitability of each school district in New York based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
Below, you can see additional report highlights, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in New York
Most Equitable
1. Wheelerville Union Free School District
2. New Paltz Central School Distric
3. Willsboro Central School
4. Burnt Hills Ballston Lake Central School DistrictDistrict
5. Valley Central School District at Montgomery
6. Orchard Park Central School
7. Greenville Central School District
8. Freeport Union Free School District
9. Hyde Park Central School District
10. Sullivan West Consolidated School District
Least Equitable
666. Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District
667. Edgemont Union Free School District
668. Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District
669. Byrum Hills-Central School District
670. Amagansett Union Free School District
671. Chappaqua Central School District
672. Scarsdale Union Free School District
673. Cold Spring Harbor Central School District 2
674. Sagaponack Common School District
675. Fire Island Union Free School District
Q&A
What are the long-term benefits of making sure all school districts have equitable funding?
“If we ensure that all school districts have equitable funding, that will help to level the playing field for students in less affluent communities. It will improve graduation rates in previously underfunded districts and lead to greater rates of pursuing higher education and better future incomes,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “College graduates have $460 – $1,154 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.”
What can we do to support underprivileged school districts during the COVID-19 pandemic?
“To support underprivileged school districts during the COVID-19 pandemic, we should make sure that all schools have the resources to provide a comprehensive online education if necessary. Schools need to be able to lend devices and provide Wi-Fi hotspots to students who don’t already have the capability to work remotely,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “If in-person schooling does happen this fall, it’s important to make sure that underprivileged school districts don’t have a shortage of COVID-19 tests, masks, cleaning supplies and other resources necessary to provide a safe learning environment.”
