The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts rated Round Rock ISD 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Financial Allocation Study for Texas, placing it in the 87th percentile in spending relative to performance.
The FAST report examined both school spending and student academic success to evaluate the effectiveness of educational finance during the 2012-13 school year, according to the Comptroller. The study compared Round Rock ISD to 41 similar school districts in the state to determine a score that considers several variables, including three-year academic progress in math and reading, STAAR scores, graduation rates, ACT/SAT performance, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate participation, per student spending, operational spending, and instructional spending.
“Putting our students in a position for success is our top priority as a public school district,,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Flores said. “In serving our families, we must align student success with our community’s investment. Our leadership, starting with our Board of Trustees, has put our district in a position where we can continue building on our success.”
The 4.5 rating results from the district’s “very high academic progress,” according to the Comptroller. Round Rock ISD has “low spending” compared to its fiscal peers with $7,205 cost-adjusted spending to each student in 2012-2013 with a higher composite score for academic progress, scoring 93 percent.
For the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the state reported $8,327 in total per student operating expenditures across all functions. Round Rock ISD recorded $7,984 per student.
“Round Rock ISD provides a great product for our families,” Board President Charles “Chad” Chadwell said. “We have a great team of leaders who work with a unity of purpose to be efficient in providing high quality schools. Our goal is to continue raising the standard for our success as we build world class schools for every student.”
Round Rock ISD has earned a 4.5 rating each year since the Comptroller launched the FAST report in 2010.
The FAST report also rated schools for performance-to-spending, similar to its rating of district performance. Round Rock ISD’s top rated school was Blackland Prairie Elementary School, earning a perfect five stars, placing in the 94th percentile in the state. Nine schools earned 4.5 ratings and seven earned 4 ratings.
“We have an exemplary financial team who understands the responsibility of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Randy Staats, Round Rock ISD chief financial officer. “The Comptroller’s office has compiled an extensive review of our spending and how it relates to student performance, which provides an objective perspective on our district’s efficiency.”
