Between 2000 and 2022, the total number of district officials and administrators* increased by 53%. Seems like a lot!
But percentages require context, especially if you're using them to compare two different-sized groups.
In the U.S., teachers and instruction aides outnumber district officials and administrators 49 to 1. Based on this ratio, let's say there are 1470 teachers and aides and 30 district administrators at Aardvark Public Schools (fictional district). What would an immediate 53% increase in the number of staff members look like, per group?
That's a difference of 763 people between the two examples!
We know that 53% of 1470 and 53% of 30 are not the same. But when reports don't share base numbers, "a 53% increase" could mean anything. As we always like to say: denominators matter.
*District administrative staff contains two subgroups: Officials/administrators and Instruction coordinators. We focus only on officials/administrators, who make up roughly half of all district administrative staff.
Student-staff ratios are a more meaningful and intellectually honest measure when it comes to comparing changes to staff capacity over time.
At Aardvark Public Schools, there are 16,800 students.* Increasing the number of district admin positions by 53% right now would add 16 staff members to its group of 30. If these 16 new hires magically materialized overnight, the student-staff ratio would narrow by about 185 students.
Back in 2000, the average student-staff ratio for district officials/administrators was 816 students per staff member. Spelling out these ratio changes reveals the practical, on-the-ground impact of "53% personnel growth."
*This student total is based on the 2022 national student-staff ratio for district officials and administrators: 559.9 students per administrator.
Ratios are better than percentages, but they still fail to explain increased workload for administrators (and teachers) as student needs keep growing.
Since 2000, there are at least...
Additionally, labor market changes especially since the pandemic have demanded a different type of student experience, requiring new investments in education technology (money and training), as well as mental health support. Physical buildings have also aged in the last two decades.
Here's a simplified analogy: A half a century ago, a full-service apartment building might have only needed a staff of 5: front desk, janitorial/cleaning, building maintenance (electrical, plumbing), and a secretary to oversee tenants and rental agreements. Today, that building might also need security, IT staff, an additional maintenance worker (HVAC, older construction would require more upkeep), a concierge, and an office/HR manager.
A fairer, more accurate way to calculate administrative value would be to explain:
At Aardvark Public Schools, let's say:
If Aardvark Public Schools decides to remove all its district officials and administrators, it could free up 1.2% of its budget for 33 new teachers and aides (at $70,000 salary + $38,000 in benefits) OR a 2.3% raise for each of its current teachers/aides.
In exchange for a 2.3% raise ($163/month before taxes), teachers would need to work more hours or take hours away from their duties to focus on...