Each year the New York State Department of Education collects data from all State school districts. The Department of Education  publishes these data as New York: The State of Learning (the Section 655 Report). The latest edition, published in June 2003 and covering the 2002-2003 school year, is available at

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/irts/655report/2003/volume2/chapter655-july2003-vol2.xls

Here are graphs that present some of the data from that report

Needs

Poverty index

Limited English proficiency

Resources

Combined wealth ratio

Costs

Total cost per pupil

Annual budget increase

Where do we stand?

Glen Cove’s poverty index and students with limited English proficiency ratio are well above the Nassau County average and are, in fact, greater than all but eight school districts in the county. The smaller classes, additional teachers, and additional programs needed by these students raise the cost of running the school district.

Our combined wealth ratio, which measures our ability to pay for services, is just slightly above the Nassau average.

Our total cost per pupil is near the Nassau average, which is remarkable in light of the great number of students who need extra help. Even more remarkable, last year and the year before the percentage increase in our school budget was near the bottom of all Nassau districts.

Although it is difficult, the Glen Cove school board and voters should assure that the school district has the resources it needs to continue to provide quality education to all of our students and to maintain our position relative to the other Nassau County school districts.