Did You Know…?

Ash Grove School Finances

 

Did you know that…

 

  • The Ash Grove School District was able to sell the last $995,265 of its no-tax-increase school bonds at 0% interest through a federally subsidized program (QSCB)?  Did you know that this saves the school district and its patrons $559,842 in interest payments over the life of the bond?

 

  • Ash Grove Schools used the “Construction Management” process to complete the renovations and new construction projects which have taken place in the district in the last 18 months?  Did you know that by using this process, the district was able to save significant amounts of money because it was able to not only bid out each separate job, but received multiple bids for each subcontracted job in each project (i.e. paint, electrical, plumbing, floor coverings, etc.)?

 

  • There are 523 school districts in the state?  Did you know that of those 523 school districts, Ash Grove has the third lowest per-pupil expenditure in the entire state? 

 

Per-Pupil Expenditures of Area Schools

 

Ash Grove: $6,517                            Willard: $7,443

Fair Grove: $7,501                           Everton: $9,152

Skyline: $7,455                                 Greenfield: $8,238

Pleasant Hope: $7,242                    Morrisville: $7,701

Stockton: $7,562                               Miller: $9,287

Strafford: $6,905                               Republic: $6,549

Marionville: $6,658                           Walnut Grove: $8,055

 

  • Ash Grove continues to achieve outstanding academic results and provides wonderful educational programs and still has the lowest operating tax levy allowed by law ($2.75)?  Did you know that Ash Grove has one of the lowest total school tax levies in Missouri?

 

Total Tax Rates by School

 

Ash Grove: $3.25                              Willard: $3.99

Fair Grove: $3.65                              Everton: $3.83

Skyline: $3.55                                    Greenfield: $3.50

Pleasant Hope: $3.77                      Morrisville: $3.30

Stockton: $3.47                                 Miller: $3.99

Strafford: $3.45                                 Republic: $4.18

Marionville: $3.56                              Walnut Grove: $3.25

Nixa: $4.31                                        Ozark: $4.14

Rogersville: $3.94                             Clever: $4.34

 

  • Patrons of the Ash Grove School District haven’t been asked to increase their school tax levy since it was required by law in the early 1990’s?

 

  • Ash Grove Schools is one of the few schools in the state that still “rolls back” its tax levy each year?  Did you know that if Ash Grove didn’t “roll back” its tax levy, it would still have one of the lowest school tax rates in the area at $3.58?

 

  • Because Ash Grove has one of the lowest per-pupil expenditures and tax rates in the state that there remain few areas to cut in the budget when school funding is cut at the state level?

 

  • Ash Grove, like many rural schools, is losing a significant percentage of its students each year as parents move closer to their places of employment?  Did you know that Ash Grove has lost more than 10% of its total student population in the last five years and is still providing its students with one of the best educations in the state?

 

  • Ash Grove’s funding, like most other schools, has been significantly cut by the state?  Did you know that even more funding has been and will be lost at Ash Grove due to the loss of students from the district? 

 

  • The state drastically reduced every school’s transportation budget and recommends that schools not transport students living within three miles of a school?  Did you know that Ash Grove Schools decided to continue to transport everyone that they have transported in the past for as long as they are financially able to do so?

 

  • The parents and patrons of the Ash Grove R-IV School District get one of the largest educational “bangs for their buck” compared to every school district in the state of Missouri?

 

  • Like families and individuals in our community, Ash Grove Schools has had to find ways to cut expenses and reduce costs as funding for schools continues to decrease?

 

  • There will undoubtedly have to be additional cost saving measures put into place in the coming year as Ash Grove Schools faces additional losses of school funding?  Did you know that Ash Grove Schools is doing all it can to provide the best schools and education for the students in our district with the current level of funding?

 

  • The Ash Grove R-IV School District remains committed to providing a quality education for every student?

 

  • You should be absolutely proud of the Ash Grove R-IV School District and what it accomplishes and offers its students with minimal resources?