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Consolidating Rural School Districts: Potential Savings and Effects on Student Achievement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Charles Jacques ,
B. Wade Brorsen  and
Francisca G. C. Richter
Charles Jacques
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
B. Wade Brorsen
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
Francisca G. C. Richter
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
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Abstract

One frequently proposed policy is to consolidate rural school districts in order to save money by obtaining economies of size. The effects of school district size on both expenditures and standardized test scores are estimated for Oklahoma. Results indicate that economies of scale with respect to expenditures per student exist up to an average daily membership (ADM) of 965 students, but that as school districts become larger, tests scores decline. Even if savings in school district administration from consolidation are spent on instruction, state average test scores would decrease slightly. Thus, school district consolidation can reduce costs, but it will also reduce student learning.

Keywords

economies of sizeeducationplateau functionschool district consolidation
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 32 , Issue 3 , December 2000 , pp. 573 - 583
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2000

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