Posted: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:09 PM - 13,577 Readers

By: Charles Wood

Elgin's school system is giving good value for the dollar according to a report from the State Comptroller's Office.

The Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) report from Susan Combs' office rated Elgin Independent School District four stars out of five based on efficiency of operations. The rating came from student academic achievement and dollars spent per child.

Elgin and Lake Travis were the only Central Texas school districts to get a 4-star rating. The only district in Central Texas to receive five stars was Dripping Springs. Pflugerville and Round Rock got 4.5 stars each. Austin and Hays each got 3, while Bastrop and Manor got 2 stars each. Statewide, 3.5 percent of districts got 5 stars; 19 percent got 4 stars and 76 percent got fewer.

Elgin ISD is spending $6,568 per pupil, said Assistant Superintendent Kreis Alyea. "Our school district is very proud of this rating," he said. "It shows we are spending wisely and getting good academic results for our money."

Alyea said the report doesn't mean other school districts with lower ratings are poor schools — in fact, some have higher TAKS scores than Elgin ISD. EISD has a 60 percent passing rate on the TAKS. Taylor, which has 2 stars, has a 62 percent TAKS passing rate.

What it does mean is that EISD has learned some things about efficiency that other school districts might be able to use. "The state is trying to see what has been done to save money," said Alyea. "They're developing a set of best practices. EISD has done most of it. It's not just about the classroom, but the operation of the district."