Greendale's Average Household Income Decreased by Almost $10,000; Poverty Rates Increase

The average household income in Greendale fell nearly by $10,000 from last year, according to a report presented to the school board on Dec. 5.

The report present by Greendale School District's business manager Erin Green said, "When Greendale School District is compared to 17 greater Wisconsin districts chosen for their higher achievement, we see GSD is in the middle for minority percentage, in the low to middle for family income, in the low to middle for property value per student, in the middle for total expenditure per student, and on the low side (smaller class sizes) for teacher/pupil ratios."

Average Household Income:

Last year the average Greendale annual household income was $61,713 and this year it fell to $52,602, which is also lower than the area's average group income of $66,149.

All districts appear to have lost household income from last year, however, Greendale has one of the steeper declines at 14.7% decline from last year.

Mequon-Thiensville leads with the highest income at $122,337 per household and Whitefish Bay comes in second with $113,178. Neighboring community Franklin’s incomes is higher with $66,149 and Whitnall’s at $55,965. Greenfield's income, another neighboring school district, is lower than Greendale’s at $42,278.

Poverty Rates:

Poverty rates are also on the rise in Greendale. The poverty rate increased from 18.1% last year to 19.4% this year. Greendale’s rate is still below the area’s group average of 22.2%.

Almost all districts have an increase in families qualifying for the Free and Reduced lunch. Greendale School District has an elementary Free and Reduced lunch populations of 32% to 37%, the middle school has 24% and the high school is at 17.2%. Free and Reduced lunch has doubled in the last decade in Greendale.

The Greendale School District's poverty level is increasing, particularly at the lower grade levels, where poverty is over one third of the student base. College Park Elementary has the highest poverty level at 37%.

Property Value Per Student, Pupil/Teacher Ratios and Cost Per Student:

Greendale's property value per stduent at $579,521 is below the group average of $737,071. Once again Mequon-Thiensville leads at $1,249,464 and Cudahy has the lowest at $395,671.

Kettle Moraine and Oconomowoc have the highest pupil/teacher ratio at 17.6. Northern Ozaukee has the lowest at 11.2. Greendale's ratio of 13.4 is below the group average of 14.5. Greendale is the lowest among our immediate neighbors,
with Greenfield at 15.2, Whitnall at 15.6 and Franklin at 14.8.

Greendale's cost per stuent is at $11,929 and is above the group average of $11,381. Greendale's cost is slightly above the immediate neighbors of Franklin at $11,650 and Whitnall at $11,129 and Greenfield at $11,904. Brown Deer has the highest cost per student at $13,614 with Northern Ozaukee following at $12,843. Lowest is West Bend at $10,128.  The report says that the major reasons for Greendale’s higher cost is the higher salary schedule, and lower pupil teacher ratios.

The report states that, "Greendale School District is not far off the state average of $11,381, in spite of one of the highest teachers’ salary schedules in the State. With salaries and benefits making up close to 80% of expenditures, the District must be spending resources wisely to attract and keep the best talent available, yet keeping costs close to the state average."

Minority Rate:

Minority rates are increasing in all the districts. Greendale's minority rate went up from 15.3% last year to 17.7%, which is still lower than the group's average rate of 20.33%.

The highest in this comparison are Brown Deer at 66.4%, Racine at 58.5%,
West Allis at 34.3%, Greenfield at 35.1%, and Tosa at 31%.

Student Achievement

Despite the decrease in average household income and poverty rise the Greendale School District is at the second highest percentage on the 10th Grade Science Proficient /Advanced level. Greendale School District has some of the highest achievement levels among the group of 17 districts at all grade levels. The only district that out scores Greendale in this 17 district comparison of test scores is Mequon-Thiensville.

The Greendale School District has one of the highest salary schedules in the state, despite the middle to lower family incomes shown in these comparisons, and the lower property values per student.

The report says that the community is paying for the performance seen in achievement levels.  The district has also tried to control health care cost increases for the past decade, keeping the increases well below the national trend of 10%, closer to an average of 2.9%.

Attached with this story is the chart of the 17 school comparison. See photos.