2004: How Rhode Island Schools Compare On Monday, June 21, 2004, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) released its 2004 Edition of the How Rhode Island Schools Compare. See below to read report. Gary Sasse, RIPEC’s Executive Director, noted that the data shows that “Rhode Islanders continue to make a significant investment in their public schools. However, this cost is primarily borne by the local property taxpayers.” A key finding in the report found that Rhode Island was second in the nation in the percent of school revenue generated by property taxes. Sasse said, “This is further evidence that the Ocean State’s method of financing public education is out-of-balance and should be reformed.” The RIPEC report found: - Rhode Island spent $10,258 per pupil in school year 2003-04, ranking 7th highest in the Nation. This level of spending was 26.0 percent higher than the national average.
- Rhode Island’s average teacher salaries of $52,261 ranked 8th highest in the Nation, representing an average salary that was 11.6 percent above the National average ($46,826).
- On average, Rhode Island public schools derived 59.4 percent of their revenues from local sources, principally the local property tax. This ranked second highest in the Nation, following Nevada. The National average was 42.7 percent.
- Conversely, Rhode Island public schools derived 37.0 percent of their revenues from the state – ranking the Ocean State 43rd in the Nation. On average, schools received 49.1 percent of their revenues from state sources.
- While Federal sources do not contribute a significant portion of the public school budget across the country (8.2 percent), Rhode Island ranked 49th, with 3.7 percent of its public school funds coming from the Federal Government.
- RIPEC will publish its Results report in September, which will discuss both school funding and student performance.
Please contact Peter Marino, Director of Policy, at the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council at 401-521-6320 or at p_marino@ripec.com for additional information. Click on a link below to read report: Table 1 - Estimated Average Teacher Salaries, 2003-04 and 1995-96 Table 2 - Average Salaries of Public School Teachers, Percentage of National Average, 2003-04 Table 3 - Average Salaries of Instructional Staff in Public Schools, 2003-04 Table 4 - Estimated Current Expenditures Per Student in Fall Enrollment, 2003-04 and 1995-96 Table 5 - Estimated Public School Revenue Per Student in Fall Enrollment, 2003-04 and 1995-96 Table 6 - Estimated Local Government Revenue As a Percentage of Total Public School Revenue, 2003-04 Table 7 - Estimated State Government Revenue as a Percentage of Total Public School Revenue, 2003-04 Table 8 - Estimated Federal Government As a Percentage of Total Public School Revenue, 2003-04 Definitions | 
