According to a study recently reported in an article by Wirepoints.org, Illinoisan’s pay the highest property taxes in the nation at 1.88 percent of median property value. That’s up from 1.78 percent the prior year. As a percentage of our property value, our real estate property taxes continue to go up.
In O’Fallon, Illinois the majority of our real estate property taxes collected (over 70 percent) are distributed to our public schools. One might think since we pay the highest real estate property tax in our nation we should be getting the best education money can buy.
Overall Illinois Public Schools Rank 20th per World Population Review Study
According to a recent study published by World Population Review, Illinois’ public schools are ranked by state in the middle of the pack at 20th in the nation. A separate study by U.S News and World Report places Illinois high schools within the top 30 percent of the nation with respect to academic achievement.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Illinois Department of Education, O’Fallon Township High School falls within the top 30 percent of all the state’s public high schools with a math proficiency of only 32 percent, a reading proficiency of only 40 percent, and yet a 90 percent graduation rate.
Lavern Evans Elementary School is ranked in the top 30% within Illinois with a math proficiency of 30-34 percent and a reading proficiency of 35-39 percent.
J Emmett Hinchcliff Sr Elementary School has a ranking of top 10 percent in Illinois with a math proficiency of 60-64 percent and a reading proficiency of 40-49 percent
Shiloh Middle School has a math proficiency of 25 percent and a reading proficiency of 36 percent with a state ranking of top 50 percent.
Marie Schaefer Elementary School has a math proficiency of 45 percent and a reading proficiency of 33 percent with a ranking of top 30 percent.
Joseph Arthur Middle School is ranked in the bottom 50% within the state with a match proficiency of 6-9 percent and a reading proficiency of 15-19 percent.
Obviously, academic achievement in our public education system needs improvement.
Granted, our public education is not fully funded by real estate property taxes but it does makeup the lion’s share of each school’s budgets. Since we are paying the most in our nation for our public education, why do we fail to have the highest academic achievement in the nation?
To learn more about of Our Tax Money become a member by subscribing to Our Tax Money (http://www.ourtaxmoneyofallon.com) and/or request membership in the Our Tax Money Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1396458694589537 ).
Comments