Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-04-19
WORCESTER CO.
SCHOOL REPORT
IS SUBMITTED
Some Comparisons Made Between
Cost Of Public Education In
Worcester And Elsewhere
HIGH SCHOOL EXPENSE
APPEARS EXCESSIVE

The Democrat is in receipt of the
Annual Report of the Public Schools
of Worcester county, school year end
in gully 81, 1923.
This shows total receipts of $780,
96231, and on July 81, 1923 the
treasury showed balance of $16.11.
Items of receipt are set forth in de-
tail, and expenditures also are tabu-
lated.
There is, however, no comparative
statements made and it might be in
teresting to know just how Worces-
ter county ranks with other counties
and with county averages.
According to a report sent out by
the State Board of Education the
total current cost per pupil belong
ing in the high schools of Worcester
county is $111.23. The county aver
age is $91.12, and there are only two
other counties which exceed Worces-
ter-Kent, with $132.16, and Carroll,
with $113.15.
In the matter of salaries, it costs
$3.50 for every pupil belonging in
the local high schools, as against
county average of $71.21.
Comparing the counties with the
average in respect to total current
expense and salaries, we find thirteen
below and ten above $91.12. Com
parison as to the salaries shows elev-
en- below and twelve above the
$71.21.
The rank of Worcester in the item
Of salaries is No. 2, and in current
expense, No. 3, estimated on the cost
per pupil belonging.
In Worcester High schools the
cost per pupil attending was in 1923,
$121.20 as against the county aver
age of $99.26, thus ranking No. 3,
Kent and Carroll leading with $146.47
and $127.72 respectively. Girdle-
tree is listed as one of the high
schools with very high cost per pu-
pill, being 1920.
In salaries the cost per pupil at
tending was $96.1O as against
county average of $77.59, Worcester
ranking close to second, Carroll oc-
cupying that position with cost of
96.21; Kent ranking first with $114.48
In the Elementary schools the av--
erage total current expense per pupil
belonging is $39.S4. Worcester falls
below this with $36.18. She also falls
below the average salary paid,
$31.1S; hers being $27.25. Her rank
ing in the salary list is No. 20, and in
the total current expense, No. Is.
These statistics are all for white
schools.
A great deal has been said about
the cost of supervision. Some COM
parative figures here might be inter-
esting. In 1923 Worcester had an
enrolment of 66O pupils in her high
schools. The expense of supervision
is so divided between the County Su-
perintendent and the State district
supervisor as to be difficult to appor-
tion. There is also the State super
visor of High schools; the Supervis-
or of Music, the Director Of vocation
al education whose salaries figure in
the cost.
In the Elementary schools, the
county average cost Of supervision
per pupil attending is $1.14. The cost
in Worcester is $1.36. In the matter
supervision there are nine counties
below the average cost; Worcester
ranking No. 10.
1t may be of interest to note the
comparative cost per pupil to the
county of the six high schools in the
county: In Pocomoke City, $1,000;
in Berlin, $73.33; in Snow Hill,
$76.6S; in Stockton, $98.10; in Ocean
City, $s3.6S; in Girdletree, $164.43.
Tha amount of State and Federal Aid
for these schools is given as follows:
for Pocomoke City, $5,354.48; for
Berlin, $3,305; for Snow Hill, $3,592;
for Stockton $194O; for Ocean City,
$1720; for Girdletree, $1150. The ex-
penditure of these amounts along
with what the county appropriates,
brings the cost per pupil up to
q = n T.