Section
1: Population and Misc. Information
*The East Hampton 2006 pupil population was 2116. This is less than the peak that occurred in 1973. Official
projections indicate little change in the next 5 years. Pupils represent about 17% of the town population of 12,612.
*Overall,
East Hampton pupil characteristics were about average. Such characteristics influence the educational needs of the community.
Where differences exist, they are generally in the educationally favorable direction.
Section 2: General Revenues
*The percent of East Hampton total revenue generated by taxes has been increasing
in recent years and was above average in the latest year.
*The undesignated general fund balance as a %
of budget has declined from 14% in 1994 to 10% in 2006. It has increased significantly in recent years.
*On average,
the Grand List has increased by about 2.8% per year since 1992. New revenue from Grand List growth has averaged $496,000 per
year since 1992. The larger (5%+) increases of recent years have stopped. The increase for 2007 was 2.66%.
Section 3: General Expenditures
*The annual % increase for Education averaged 4.8% since 1992 compared to 3.7% for General Government. The mill increase
averaged 3.1%.
*To
make up for the difference in tax levy and Grand List growth rates, the East Hampton mill rate has had to be increased by
about 125% since 1985. The effective mill rate grew 35% faster than the CPI.
*When adjusted for population and
pupil growth as well as for the cost of living, Education, Debt Service, and General Gov't budgets showed significant real
growth since 1985. Education growth was 2 to 3 times that of General Gov't while Capital actually declined in real terms.
*In 2005-06, except for Education, all East Hampton per capita expenditures
were below the average for similar-size towns.
Section 4: Tax Effort
*Based
on Grand-List-related measures, East Hampton is 3% less wealthy than the average similar-size town and 29% less wealthy
than the DRGD average.
*Based on income per capita, East Hampton is 5% more wealthy than the similar-size town
average and 5% less wealthy than the DRGD average.
*Overall, East Hampton educational needs appear about average.
Scores (except for Grade 4) and pupil characteristics are generally favorable.
*Overall,
East Hampton's 2005-06 Education tax effort was above average while its 2005-06 Non-education tax effort was below average.
*In
recent years East Hampton Net Education $/pupil values have improved. In 2005-06, it was 3% below the DRGD average.
*East Hampton 2003 Equalized Education Tax Rate (EETR) defined by the State was 24 percent above
the DRGD average.
*East
Hampton latest available statewide rankings related to tax effort follow. Note that a ranking above
85 indicates a below-average effort.
Tax per capita (05-06): 111 (below average).
Tax divided by income (00/99):
81 (above
average)
Net Current education $ per pupil (05-06): 123
(below average).
Debt service $ per capita (02-03):
44 (above average).
Total Equalized Mill Rate (05-06): 66 (above average).
Net Equalized Education Mill Rate (05-06): 60
(above average).
Section 5: School Staff
Information
*East Hampton
average class sizes varied from 20 to 26 in 2005. Grades K, 2, & 7 were above the DRGD average. Grade 5 and
High School were average.
*Reducing class size in Kindergarten and Grade 2 by 33% had little effect on Mastery
Index scores when the pupils reached Grade 4.
*East Hampton overall pupil-teacher ratio was above the DRGD average
in 2003.
*East
Hampton teacher salary scales have kept up with the cost of living since 1990.
*The years experience needed to reach
the top step of the teacher salary scale has declined and now equals the number of steps in the scale. As a result, annual
raises for teachers eligible for step increases are in the 8% range.
*The number of East Hampton teachers per administrator
per was below average in 2006.
Section
6: Education Budget Revenues
*The % of education budget funded by local taxes has
been well below the DRGD average. This is consistent with East Hampton being less wealthy and, therefore, eligible for more
state aid.
Section 7: Education Budget Expenditures
*East Hampton total and
net education expenditures per pupil have nearly tripled since 1985. They have risen 2.3 times the rise in cost of living.
*The following East Hampton per pupil expenditures in 2005 were as follows:
Above the DRGD average: Transportation
Average:
Operation/Maintenance, High School
Below average: Net, Instruction, Administration and Elementary.
Section 8: Education Test
Results
*East Hampton Mastery
results have been trending slightly up in recent years. Grade 4 Math trend may be a concern.
*East
Hampton Mastery results have generally been above DRGD averages recently. Grade 4 trends may be a concern.
*East
Hampton SAT Math and Verbal scores exhibit a downward trend in recent years. Scores in recent years are above DRGD
and State scores.
*East Hampton CAP scores have been improving and except for Science. All are above the
DRGD averages.
*Statistical analysis of the Mastery and SAT scores indicate that socio-economic factors (such as parental
involvement) generally have a much greater impact on scores than do more traditional education factors (such as class size).
Section 9: Special Education
*In 2005 East Hampton spent 25.3% of its
budget on Special Ed. This was significantly higher than the ERG average of 19.7%.
*East
Hampton's Special Ed. prevalency rate has fallen to below average in recent years.
*East
Hampton's high Special Ed. budget percent is due to the high % of Sp. Ed pupils placed out of district (OOD).
*East
Hampton's Special Ed. $ per Special Ed. pupil is higher than the DRGD average and rising. This is the primary driver
of the higher-than-average Special Ed. budget percent. Tuition, Transportation and Purchased Services are the principal
contributors to the higher Special Ed. dollars per pupil.
*East Hampton’s total Special Ed staffing per 1000
pupils in 2005 was below average. The number of Special Ed. teachers was above average, while the number of psychologists,
aides, and counselors was below average.
*Emotionally
Disturbed (ED) pupils tend to dominate the out-of-district placements.
*East
Hampton 1999 ED rate was comparable to that of ERGI average. Note that ERGI includes large cities.
*Mastery
scores for Special Ed pupils are below ERG averages but improving.
*The overall ratio of male to female Special Ed pupils
is about 2 to 1. East Hampton is about average in this regard. The ED ratio is much higher (about 7 to 1).
*East
Hampton's % of its Special Ed pupils in Special Ed classrooms has recently been reduced significantly to about average.
