Utah Schools

    The number of students in Advanced Placement (AP) classes in Utah has raised steadily since the 2001-02 school year. Between 2001 and the 2005-06 school year, over 2500 additional students enrolled in AP classes. Utah’s SAT scores continue to average above the national mean scores as well. ACT scores are also above the national average.

Utah is ranked 33 out of 50 for the 2005-06 in the “Smartest State” rankings, dropping five spots from the 2004-05 school year. The Smartest State rankings are based off of Morgan Quinto’s annual reference guide “Education State Rankings 2005-06.” Quinto rates each state on 21 positive and negative factors.

Only 19.5% of Utah students attend Title I schools—schools in low-income areas, or that need to focus on improving test scores. Utah has the lowest percentage of Title I schools in the nation. Title I schools receive extra federal funding, and in the 2007 fiscal year, Utah’s Title I schools will receive just over $55 million to help improve test scores, provide free or reduced-cost lunches (eligible to 34% of the student population), or provide transportation to a higher-performing school. Only 2.3% of the $55 million is restricted in its uses, the use of the remaining money is up to the specific school district to use as it sees fit.

Utah spends approximately $5,000 per student per school year, not including federal No Child Left Behind funding. This ranks Utah as the state that spends the least on student education in terms of cost per student.

For more information, visit Utah’s Office of Education at http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us.