An audit of DC Public Schools (DCPS) found that district staffing levels have increased by more than seven times the number of students enrolled, but at the same time, district students’ achievement levels remain behind the pre-level of most students.
The District of Columbia Auditor’s Office found that student enrollment increased by 2.6% over five years, while staff numbers increased by 19.5%. This is about 1,600 new positions funded by the district since 2020, an increase of about 43% per collective spending.
Meanwhile, both in DC and across the nation, students are still trying to find ways to return to pre-pandemic achievement levels.
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“D.C. Public Schools help all academics understand their full potential every day. This recent report highlights a talent strategy that prioritizes teachers, leading to increased registration and academic achievement that stands out from other urban school districts. Research findings. “Following the sunset of the federal government’s pandemic relief, DCPS has increased local funding for the schools by reducing the total number of central service staff.”
According to the Education Data Initiative, the United States is the third-best Spender of the other 40 developed countries in economic cooperation and development institutions on per-student spending. (istock)
The latest national assessment of educational advancements colloquially known as a national report card has shown some improvements since the assessment was last released in 2022, but the achievement levels for reading and mathematics students are below the 2019 level for most students. In DC, especially, students have improved better than most metropolitan areas, but students in the country’s capital have not yet returned to their pre-pandemic achievement levels, according to the national report card.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the US is the third largest Spender of the other 40 developed countries in economic cooperation and development institutions on per student spending. The pandemic has also promoted a massive influx of cash in the public school system, but we found that many districts put all that extra money into staff salaries and bonuses, as opposed to those directly related to student performance.
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In North Carolina, the Wake County public school system spent 78% of total pandemic relief funding on salaries and employee benefits. At Chicago public schools, 77% of the district’s pandemic money was sent to staff bonuses, salaries and benefits.
Nationally, a study by the nonprofit education news group The 74 found that public schools added about 121,000 employees last year, serving around 110,000 students. (Adobe Co., Ltd.)
“The school has been employed over the past few years thanks to the $190 billion infusion of federal relief funds,” an analysis from the nonprofit education newsgroup said in 74. Gwinnett County, Georgia, shows a similar divergence trend.
Abbreviation of the 74 million American school children enrolled in K-12 schools across the United States, 74 surveys staffing and registration levels in over 9,500 school districts across the country, accounting for around 92% of all K-12 students nationwide.
The nonprofit education newsgroup found that almost 3,000 districts had increased staff levels despite a decline in registration. The analysis shows that while others reduced their staff numbers, they weren’t as fast as losing students, another category included districts that acquired students but increased staffing levels faster. According to 74, public schools added about 121,000 employees last year, totaling last year.
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US President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to reduce the size and scope of the education sector, along with undergraduate children signing his version, at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and Republicans are taking steps to increase their control of school funds in individual states, in contrast to the federal government. Last month he signed an executive order aimed at effectively dismantling the U.S. Department of Education by relocating educational institutions to the state. Last week, GOP Senators also introduced a bill to close the department.
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“Even though spending per pupil has increased by more than 245% [since the 1970s,] Trump’s March 20th order virtually no measurable improvements to student achievement.
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