Loudoun Schools Rank High in National Survey

By Daniel de Vise

Originally published at 1:44 p.m., July 17, 2007
Updated at 6:50 p.m., July 17, 2007

A new study by Forbes magazine ranks Montgomery County the fifth-best county school system "for the buck" in the nation, with nods to Howard and Loudoun schools for delivering return on educational investment. D.C. and Alexandria schools rank among the worst.

The analysis, "Best And Worst School Districts For The Buck," ranks 97 populous counties for performance -- as measured by SAT data and graduation rates -- per dollar spent on education. It focuses on counties with populations greater than 65,000 where more than half of school funds come from property taxes.

Education scholars and school-system officials greeted the study as a flawed answer to a fascinating question: Which school districts deliver the best results for the tax dollars citizens invest?

After adjusting for local cost of living, the Forbes analysis concludes that Montgomery County schools are a comparatively good deal. For an investment of $8,824 per pupil in fiscal 2004, the county administered the SAT college-entrance exam to 77 percent of students and produced average scores of 1,101 for the class of 2005; the graduation rate was 91 percent.

Alexandria City schools, at the other extreme, spent $11,404 per student for an average SAT score of 963 and a 73 percent graduation rate.

The report ranked Howard County seventh, Loudoun 11th, Frederick 21st, Fairfax 28th, Calvert 51st, Arlington 64th, Anne Arundel 75th, D.C. 95th and Alexandria 97th.

Scholars and educators faulted the study for taking no account of other factors, such as wealth and poverty, that affect test scores and graduation prospects. They also questioned the criteria for selecting and ranking counties.

Paul Regnier, spokesman for Fairfax schools, said a quick comparison with the rival Montgomery system left him befuddled.

"We have a lower per-pupil cost and we have higher test scores," Regnier said. "Why are they fifth and we're 28th?"

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