Student Population Growth vs Administration Growth

Perrysburg has seen its administrator-to-pupil ratio significantly decrease from 393.96 in 2014 to 154.50 in 2023. While this may initially seem like a positive improvement, the sharp increase in administrative staffing raises concerns about overstaffing and whether such a drastic shift was truly necessary.

While Perrysburg’s ratio aligns with other districts such as Reynoldsburg (129.72) and Teays Valley (149.24), this administrative growth came at a cost. In contrast, some districts, like Licking Heights, have managed to maintain relatively lean administrative structures (133.86) without such growth.

Administrative Expenditures vs Student Expenditures

Perrysburg’s 62% increase in administrator expenditure per pupil—from $1,178.61 in 2014 to $1,911.04 in 2023—is the largest among all the districts compared. This reflects a major financial commitment to administration that could be seen as unnecessary and wasteful, especially in light of the modest student growth.

Districts like Kings Local SD, with a much lower 18% increase in administrator spending, managed to maintain reasonable costs without ballooning their administrative teams.

Although Perrysburg increased instructional and pupil support expenditures by 36% and 93% respectively, these costs are overshadowed by the disproportionate growth in administrative spending. Other districts, like Gahanna-Jefferson and Upper Arlington, achieved similar or better instructional results with far more controlled growth in their administration.

  • The growth in administration at Perrysburg Schools is unnecessarily costly, especially when compared to districts with larger student growth that have taken a more measured approach to administrative expansion.
  • The 57% increase in administrators outpaces the 6% student population growth. This misallocation of resources could have been better spent on direct educational services or instructional improvements.
  • With administrative spending growing by 62%, Perrysburg has significantly burdened its budget to accommodate this expansion, raising concerns about efficiency and the value these additional administrators bring to the district.
  • Overall, while the district’s investment in education is adequate, the disproportionate focus on growing administration rather than investing directly in students seems misguided and likely unsustainable.