The Tennessee State Department of Education has a great web-site. They have a statistics link One of the links under statistics is the 2001-2002 Statistical Report. I 'saved-as' Table 47a - Current Expenditures Per Average Daily Membership and sorted it by Operating Expenditures Per Pupil ADA to find out where Rutherford County and Murfreesboro ranked in the state.
Please note I moved the comment at the bottom of the state's web-page to the top. In all fairness, I do not know if this chart is truly indicative of each county's local government's commitment to education. Some counties may pay lower teacher salaries than others. Others may have far more transportation expenses than others. I am not an accountant or a school superintendent or a journalist but the way I understand the comments these dollars represent county dollars for educating a student in a classroom. Federal and State dollars are excluded (I think I have that right.)
OUR Rutherford County Commissioners took five cents of the Rutherford County School Board's share of the property taxes and transferred it to the general fund for the 1998-1999 fiscal year. Since The County Commission voted 14-7 to not give them the five cents back or any other increase for the 1999-2000 fiscal year we went from 62nd in the state in '97-'98 to to 64th in '98-'99. Want to know more? Our Wheel Tax History
| AVERAGE | TOTAL | OPERATING | ||
| CURRENT EXPENDITURE | DAILY | OPERATING | EXPENDITURES | |
| PER ADA | ATTENDANCE*** | EXPENDITURES** | PER PUPIL ADA | |
| 1 | OAK RIDGE | 4,195 | $37,293,930 | $8,890 |
| 2 | *FRANKLIN | 3,640 | $30,524,764 | $8,385 |
| 3 | ALCOA | 1,251 | $9,853,581 | $7,878 |
| 4 | DAVIDSON COUNTY | 64,133 | $489,323,330 | $7,630 |
| 5 | GREENEVILLE | 2,572 | $19,611,864 | $7,626 |
| 6 | BRISTOL | 3,353 | $25,422,985 | $7,581 |
| 7 | MARYVILLE | 4,164 | $30,870,315 | $7,414 |
| 8 | KINGSPORT | 6,012 | $44,325,985 | $7,374 |
| 9 | MEMPHIS | 107,716 | $793,610,762 | $7,368 |
| 10 | SULLIVAN COUNTY | 12,266 | $89,388,953 | $7,287 |
| 11 | HAMILTON COUNTY | 37,932 | $266,830,883 | $7,034 |
| 12 | FAYETTE COUNTY | 3,154 | $22,078,562 | $7,000 |
| 13 | LAKE COUNTY | 826 | $5,756,674 | $6,973 |
| 14 | UNION CITY | 1,337 | $9,303,854 | $6,957 |
| 15 | CLINTON | 874 | $6,062,658 | $6,939 |
| 16 | CLEVELAND | 4,081 | $28,064,592 | $6,877 |
| 17 | DYER COUNTY | 2,998 | $20,345,501 | $6,786 |
| 18 | WILLIAMSON COUNTY | 19,314 | $130,959,779 | $6,780 |
| 19 | MANCHESTER | 1,140 | $7,708,844 | $6,764 |
| 20 | MADISON COUNTY | 13,030 | $87,072,179 | $6,682 |
| 21 | COVINGTON | 857 | $5,698,752 | $6,647 |
| 22 | CLAIBORNE COUNTY | 4,301 | $28,523,989 | $6,632 |
| 23 | ATHENS | 1,648 | $10,882,821 | $6,602 |
| 24 | MURFREESBORO | 5,508 | $36,300,821 | $6,590 |
| 25 | HARRIMAN | 1,250 | $8,215,421 | $6,574 |
| 26 | GRUNDY COUNTY | 2,135 | $13,939,496 | $6,528 |
| 27 | PICKETT COUNTY | 672 | $4,381,376 | $6,521 |
| 28 | HANCOCK COUNTY | 1,029 | $6,700,555 | $6,512 |
| 29 | BENTON COUNTY | 2,375 | $15,442,407 | $6,501 |
| 30 | *ONEIDA | 1,176 | $7,616,051 | $6,476 |
| 31 | MAURY COUNTY | 10,488 | $67,573,067 | $6,443 |
| 32 | JOHNSON CITY | 6,387 | $41,114,270 | $6,437 |
| 33 | FRANKLIN COUNTY | 5,420 | $34,663,181 | $6,395 |
| 34 | SCOTT COUNTY | 2,426 | $15,464,346 | $6,374 |
| 35 | TULLAHOMA | 3,436 | $21,818,393 | $6,350 |
| 36 | ANDERSON COUNTY | 6,558 | $41,626,209 | $6,348 |
| 37 | JOHNSON COUNTY | 2,145 | $13,611,629 | $6,346 |
| 38 | ETOWAH | 348 | $2,205,068 | $6,342 |
| 39 | KNOX COUNTY | 49,097 | $310,497,873 | $6,324 |
| 40 | ELIZABETHTON | 2,104 | $13,232,869 | $6,289 |
| 41 | MOORE COUNTY | 914 | $5,745,604 | $6,286 |
| 42 | LENOIR CITY | 1,925 | $11,988,872 | $6,229 |
| 43 | HAYWOOD COUNTY | 3,410 | $21,189,999 | $6,215 |
| 44 | DECATUR COUNTY | 1,467 | $9,117,600 | $6,214 |
| 45 | SEVIER COUNTY | 11,732 | $72,544,862 | $6,183 |
| 46 | NEWPORT | 654 | $4,038,216 | $6,177 |
| 47 | HUMBOLDT | 1,594 | 9,822,906 | 6,164 |
| 48 | HENRY COUNTY | 2,972 | $18,208,463 | $6,128 |
| 49 | VAN BUREN COUNTY | 733 | $4,480,648 | $6,113 |
| 50 | ROANE COUNTY | 5,597 | $34,202,607 | $6,111 |
| 51 | ROGERSVILLE | 613 | $3,739,150 | $6,098 |
| 52 | HARDEMAN COUNTY | 4,292 | $26,063,311 | $6,072 |
| 53 | CARTER COUNTY | 5,632 | $34,108,074 | $6,056 |
| 54 | PERRY COUNTY | 1,091 | $6,592,974 | $6,046 |
| 55 | BLEDSOE COUNTY | 1,723 | $10,389,905 | $6,029 |
| 56 | SHELBY COUNTY | 42,206 | $254,241,995 | $6,024 |
| 57 | HAMBLEN COUNTY | 8,400 | $50,472,768 | $6,009 |
| 58 | BLOUNT COUNTY | 10,195 | $60,916,854 | $5,975 |
| 59 | DYERSBURG | 3,437 | $20,504,802 | $5,966 |
| 60 | MARSHALL COUNTY | 4,563 | $27,124,780 | $5,945 |
| 61 | *LEBANON | 2,763 | $16,413,292 | $5,941 |
| 62 | WAYNE COUNTY | 2,579 | $15,260,184 | $5,918 |
| 63 | *MILAN | 1,900 | $11,229,393 | $5,912 |
| 64 | HARDIN COUNTY | 3,658 | $21,518,128 | $5,882 |
| 65 | HAWKINS COUNTY | 6,703 | $39,359,138 | $5,872 |
| 66 | GILES COUNTY | 4,233 | $24,780,668 | $5,855 |
| 67 | WILSON COUNTY | 11,267 | $65,903,423 | $5,849 |
| 68 | OBION COUNTY | 3,825 | $22,336,891 | $5,840 |
| 69 | FAYETTEVILLE | 992 | $5,773,696 | $5,822 |
| 70 | JEFFERSON COUNTY | 6,505 | $37,788,205 | $5,809 |
| 71 | WARREN COUNTY | 5,767 | $33,404,202 | $5,792 |
| 72 | STEWART COUNTY | 1,959 | $11,338,350 | $5,787 |
| 73 | HENDERSON COUNTY | 3,285 | $18,950,934 | $5,770 |
| 74 | RUTHERFORD COUNTY | 25,561 | $146,931,873 | $5,748 |
| 75 | SUMNER COUNTY | 21,631 | $124,085,806 | $5,737 |
| 76 | HOUSTON COUNTY | 1,340 | $7,676,538 | $5,730 |
| 77 | DICKSON COUNTY | 7,521 | $43,092,688 | $5,730 |
| 78 | POLK COUNTY | 2,266 | $12,981,567 | $5,728 |
| 79 | COFFEE COUNTY | 3,965 | $22,709,884 | $5,727 |
| 80 | SWEETWATER | 1,384 | $7,916,386 | $5,721 |
| 81 | *PARIS | 1,394 | $7,956,985 | $5,709 |
| 82 | LEXINGTON | 911 | $5,190,229 | $5,697 |
| 83 | HUMPHREYS COUNTY | 2,857 | $16,273,159 | $5,696 |
| 84 | CAMPBELL COUNTY | 5,863 | $33,362,055 | $5,690 |
| 85 | WASHINGTON COUNTY | 8,025 | $45,658,608 | $5,689 |
| 86 | UNION COUNTY | 2,828 | $16,066,769 | $5,681 |
| 87 | LAUDERDALE COUNTY | 4,310 | $24,366,815 | $5,654 |
| 88 | LINCOLN COUNTY | 3,784 | $21,392,367 | $5,653 |
| 89 | OVERTON COUNTY | 3,025 | $17,097,634 | $5,653 |
| 90 | FENTRESS COUNTY | 2,215 | $12,465,088 | $5,628 |
| 91 | CLAY COUNTY | 1,156 | $6,504,012 | $5,626 |
| 92 | ROBERTSON COUNTY | 9,351 | $52,516,204 | $5,616 |
| 93 | ALAMO | 528 | $2,955,638 | $5,602 |
| 94 | UNICOI COUNTY | 2,322 | $12,971,272 | $5,587 |
| 95 | MACON COUNTY | 3,400 | $18,994,769 | $5,586 |
| 96 | MONROE COUNTY | 4,758 | $26,523,636 | $5,574 |
| 97 | PUTNAM COUNTY | 9,001 | $50,136,122 | $5,570 |
| 98 | *BRADFORD | 627 | $3,492,251 | $5,565 |
| 99 | COCKE COUNTY | 4,385 | $24,363,939 | $5,556 |
| 100 | SEQUATCHIE COUNTY | 1,737 | $9,562,345 | $5,506 |
| 101 | *TRENTON | 1,385 | $7,617,283 | $5,501 |
| 102 | MONTGOMERY COUNTY | 23,139 | $127,267,505 | $5,500 |
| 103 | JACKSON COUNTY | 1,583 | $8,694,486 | $5,491 |
| 104 | *S. CARROLL | 378 | $2,075,130 | $5,491 |
| 105 | MARION COUNTY | 3,892 | $21,367,593 | $5,490 |
| 106 | MCNAIRY COUNTY | 3,861 | $21,182,847 | $5,487 |
| 107 | MORGAN COUNTY | 3,113 | $17,040,534 | $5,474 |
| 108 | DEKALB COUNTY | 2,441 | $13,359,255 | $5,473 |
| 109 | TIPTON COUNTY | 9,447 | $51,250,952 | $5,425 |
| 110 | BEDFORD COUNTY | 5,951 | $32,233,998 | $5,416 |
| 111 | LAWRENCE COUNTY | 6,434 | $34,811,887 | $5,410 |
| 112 | BRADLEY COUNTY | 8,476 | $45,629,514 | $5,383 |
| 113 | HICKMAN COUNTY | 3,613 | $19,362,017 | $5,359 |
| 114 | GREENE COUNTY | 6,575 | $35,226,496 | $5,357 |
| 115 | CUMBERLAND COUNTY | 6,479 | $34,632,398 | $5,346 |
| 116 | MCMINN COUNTY | 5,463 | $29,094,529 | $5,326 |
| 117 | TROUSDALE COUNTY | 1,208 | $6,416,226 | $5,311 |
| 118 | *RICHARD CITY | 302 | $1,603,044 | $5,308 |
| 119 | CANNON COUNTY | 2,003 | $10,606,750 | $5,296 |
| 120 | BELLS | 378 | $1,999,474 | $5,290 |
| 121 | LOUDON COUNTY | 4,732 | $24,962,409 | $5,276 |
| 122 | MEIGS COUNTY | 1,752 | $9,235,644 | $5,271 |
| 123 | WEAKLEY COUNTY | 4,641 | $24,372,119 | $5,252 |
| 124 | DAYTON | 704 | $3,686,763 | $5,233 |
| 125 | CHEATHAM COUNTY | 6,508 | $34,017,875 | $5,227 |
| 126 | GRAINGER COUNTY | 3,042 | $15,891,091 | $5,224 |
| 127 | CROCKETT COUNTY | 1,679 | $8,769,347 | $5,222 |
| 128 | *W. CARROLL | 1,060 | $5,483,767 | $5,176 |
| 129 | *HUNTINGDON | 1,282 | $6,613,946 | $5,160 |
| 130 | RHEA COUNTY | 3,484 | $17,931,071 | $5,146 |
| 131 | *HOLLOW ROCK-BR | 762 | $3,867,277 | $5,076 |
| 132 | LEWIS COUNTY | 1,852 | $9,199,987 | $4,967 |
| 133 | *MCKENZIE | 1,250 | $6,193,516 | $4,956 |
| 134 | CHESTER COUNTY | 2,322 | $11,399,621 | $4,910 |
| 135 | *GIBSON CO. SPEC. | 2,512 | $12,259,313 | $4,881 |
| 136 | WHITE COUNTY | 3,694 | $17,705,696 | $4,794 |
| 137 | SMITH COUNTY | 3,033 | $14,482,216 | $4,775 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 848,508 | $5,386,968,953 | $6,349 | |
| * SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ||||
| **NOTE: TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES INCLUDE: CURRENT EXPENDITURES PER | ||||
| LEA FINANCIAL REPORT (EXCLUDING STUDENT BODY EDUCATION, ADULT EDUCATION); | ||||
| U.S.D.A. COMMODITY VALUE; AND STATE LEVEL PROGRAM AND ADMINISTRATIVE | ||||
| EXPENSES. | ||||
| ***AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE INCLUDES ADULT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. | ||||
| CARROLL COUNTY | 4 | $2,711,247 | n/a | |
| GIBSON COUNTY | N/A | N/A | N/A | |