Watchdog report reveals administrative pay linked to lower student test scores

A recent analysis by Open the Books has revealed a concerning trend in public schools across the United States. As salaries for administrators rise, student performance on standardized tests appears to decline. The study, which examined payroll data from 12,500 school districts between 2019 and 2023, found that increased spending on administrative salaries often correlates with lower scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a test that measures reading and math skills for fourth- and eighth-grade students.

Rachel O'Brien, deputy public policy editor of Open the Books, explained, "We found that while schools may hope that increasing their payroll will help students perform better, there's little evidence that that is what happens. In fact, the opposite seems to be true in many cases."

The report highlighted that in six states where payrolls increased by at least 23%, student performance declined. For example, Virginia, Vermont, Oregon, and Mississippi saw decreases in student performance, while New Mexico showed no change, and Utah improved slightly. Conversely, Miami public schools in Florida achieved the second-best exam scores among large cities in 2024, despite spending only $6,400 per student, the fifth lowest among large cities.

--------------------------------------

The National Desk (TND) brings you award-winning local storytelling from Sinclair Broadcast Group's local TV newsrooms across the United States and feeds from sources throughout the world.

Like us on Facebook for live feeds, video

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

Follow us on X

Read more & watch our videos

TND covers content from Sinclair's stations in:

Abilene-San Angelo, TX : KTXS

Albany, GA : WFXL

Albany, NY : WRGB

Amarillo, TX : KVII

Asheville, NC : WLOS

Austin , TX : KEYE

Bakersfield, CA : KBAK/KBFX

Baltimore : WBFF

Beaumont, TX : KFDM/KBTV

Birmingham, AL : WBMA

Boise, ID : KBOI/KYUU

Bristol, VA : WCYB

Cedar Rapids, IA : KGAN/KFXA

Champaign, IL : WCCU

Charleston, SC : WCIV

Charleston, WV : WCHS/WVAH

Chattanooga, TN : WTVC

Cincinnati, OH : WKRC/WSTR

Columbia, SC : WACH

Columbus, OH : WSYX/WTTE

Dayton, OH : WKEF/WRGT

El Paso, TX : KFOX/KDBC

Eugene, OR : KVAL/KMTR

Eureka, CA : KAEF

Flint, MI : WEYI/WBSF

Fresno, CA : KMPH

Gainesville, FL : WGFL

Green Bay, WI : WLUK

Greenville-New Bern, NC : WCTI

Harlingen, TX : KGBT

Harrisburg, PA : WHP

Jefferson City, MO : KRCG

Johnstown, PA : WJAC

Kalamazoo-Grand Rapids, MI : WWMT

Kirksville-Ottumwa, IA : KTVO

Las Vegas, NV : KSNV

Lewiston, ID : KLEW

Lincoln, NE : KHGI/KWNB

Little Rock, AR : KATV

Lynchburg, VA : WSET

Macon, GA : WGXA

Medford, OR : KTVL

Mobile, AL : WPMI

Myrtle Beach, SC : WPDE

Nashville, TN : WZTV

Oklahoma City : KOCB/KOKH

Pasco, WA : KEPR

Pensacola, FL : WEAR/WFGX

Portland, ME : WGME/WPFO

Portland, OR : KATU/KUNP

Providence, RI : WJAR

Quincy-Hannibal, IL : KHQA

Redding-Chico, CA : KRCR

Reno, NV : KRNV/KRXI

Rochester, NY : WHAM

Salt Lake City : KUTV

San Antonio, TX : KABB/WOAI

Savannah, GA : WTGS

Seattle, WA : KOMO/KUNS

Sioux City, IA : KMEG/KPTH

South Bend, IN : WSBT

Springfield, IL : WICS

Steubenville, OH : WTOV

Syracuse, NY : WSTM

Toledo, OH : WNWO

Traverse City, MI : WPBN

Tulsa, OK : KTUL

Washington DC : WJLA

West Palm Beach, FL : WPEC

Wilkes-Barre, PA : WOLF

Yakima, WA : KIMA

This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com