Smaller California school districts鈥攅specially ones in isolated, rural areas鈥攃ost taxpayers way more money per student. But as school enrollment declines across the state, closing these small districts could risk upending entire communities, writes CalMatters鈥 Carolyn Jones.
California has over 1,000 school districts and spends an average of $23,000 per K-12 student. For Orick School in Orick, however, each of its nine students cost about $118,000 a year to educate.
Nestled in northern Humboldt County, Orick School, like other small districts, gets most of its money through grants. Last year it received $774,000 from state and federal government resources, and its budget goes mostly toward salaries, maintaining facilities and transporting students. Its students range from kindergarten to eighth grade and about half are Native American.
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