The Tennessee State Department of Education has a great web-site. They have a statistics link One of the links under statistics is the 2000-2001 Statistical Report. I 'saved-as' Table 49a - 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
| 2000-2001 ADA Statistics | AVERAGE | TOTAL | OPERATING | |
| DAILY | OPERATING | EXPENDITURES | ||
| RANK | SCHOOL SYSTEM | MEMBERSHIP | EXPENDITURES | PER PUPIL ADA |
| 1 | OAK RIDGE | 4,213 | $35,816,424 | $8,502 |
| 2 | ALCOA | 1,189 | $9,576,585 | $8,053 |
| 3 | *FRANKLIN | 3,662 | $29,133,474 | $7,956 |
| 4 | BRISTOL | 3,391 | $25,167,755 | $7,422 |
| 5 | GREENEVILLE | 2,477 | $18,162,938 | $7,333 |
| 6 | MARYVILLE | 4,064 | $29,507,786 | $7,261 |
| 7 | KINGSPORT | 5,917 | $42,498,609 | $7,183 |
| 8 | CLINTON | 897 | $6,369,336 | $7,104 |
| 9 | SULLIVAN COUNTY | 12,391 | $87,630,650 | $7,072 |
| 10 | DAVIDSON COUNTY | 63,983 | $450,325,489 | $7,038 |
| 11 | MEMPHIS | 107,328 | $735,191,107 | $6,850 |
| 12 | UNION CITY | 1,317 | $8,876,496 | $6,742 |
| 13 | PICKETT COUNTY | 689 | $4,621,526 | $6,712 |
| 14 | HAMILTON COUNTY | 38,209 | $255,866,048 | $6,696 |
| 15 | HARRIMAN | 1,261 | $8,438,400 | $6,690 |
| 16 | JOHNSON CITY | 6,286 | $41,950,384 | $6,673 |
| 17 | LAKE COUNTY | 833 | $5,493,756 | $6,595 |
| 18 | COVINGTON | 884 | $5,799,338 | $6,563 |
| 19 | MADISON COUNTY | 13,148 | $84,628,200 | $6,437 |
| 20 | DYER COUNTY | 3,209 | $20,564,410 | $6,409 |
| 21 | GRUNDY COUNTY | 2,115 | $13,527,099 | $6,397 |
| 22 | CLAIBORNE COUNTY | 4,331 | $27,697,074 | $6,395 |
| 23 | CLEVELAND | 4,190 | $26,749,066 | $6,384 |
| 24 | MANCHESTER | 1,122 | $7,122,387 | $6,349 |
| 25 | WILLIAMSON COUNTY | 18,827 | $119,101,119 | $6,326 |
| 26 | MOORE COUNTY | 919 | $5,749,033 | $6,258 |
| 27 | ANDERSON COUNTY | 6,549 | $40,891,377 | $6,244 |
| 28 | *ONEIDA | 1,141 | $7,070,768 | $6,196 |
| 29 | JOHNSON COUNTY | 2,134 | $13,192,892 | $6,182 |
| 30 | ELIZABETHTON | 2,075 | $12,787,696 | $6,162 |
| 31 | FAYETTE COUNTY | 3,304 | $20,286,716 | $6,140 |
| 32 | NEWPORT | 642 | $3,942,543 | $6,137 |
| 33 | BENTON COUNTY | 2,405 | $14,686,271 | $6,108 |
| 34 | DECATUR COUNTY | 1,653 | $10,079,817 | $6,100 |
| 35 | POLK COUNTY | 2,198 | $13,341,745 | $6,071 |
| 36 | HANCOCK COUNTY | 1,056 | $6,411,938 | $6,070 |
| 37 | HAMBLEN COUNTY | 8,484 | $51,421,963 | $6,061 |
| 38 | SCOTT COUNTY | 2,502 | $15,160,289 | $6,059 |
| 39 | ATHENS | 1,725 | $10,438,665 | $6,052 |
| 40 | DYERSBURG | 3,174 | $19,154,299 | $6,035 |
| 41 | MAURY COUNTY | 10,659 | $64,240,122 | $6,027 |
| 42 | BLEDSOE COUNTY | 1,647 | $9,913,619 | $6,020 |
| 43 | VAN BUREN COUNTY | 738 | $4,434,969 | $6,007 |
| 44 | TULLAHOMA | 3,432 | $20,542,843 | $5,986 |
| 45 | MURFREESBORO | 5,454 | $32,530,465 | $5,965 |
| 46 | PERRY COUNTY | 1,103 | $6,573,842 | $5,960 |
| 47 | FRANKLIN COUNTY | 5,458 | $32,504,574 | $5,955 |
| 48 | SEVIER COUNTY | 11,430 | $68,044,892 | $5,953 |
| 49 | ROANE COUNTY | 5,647 | $33,536,806 | $5,939 |
| 50 | HENRY COUNTY | 3,028 | $17,923,358 | $5,918 |
| 51 | LEXINGTON | 855 | $5,055,978 | $5,917 |
| 52 | LENOIR CITY | 1,841 | $10,881,354 | $5,909 |
| 53 | HARDIN COUNTY | 3,591 | $21,066,662 | $5,867 |
| 54 | HUMBOLDT | 1,703 | $9,978,029 | $5,860 |
| 55 | HAYWOOD COUNTY | 3,475 | $20,305,374 | $5,844 |
| 56 | UNICOI COUNTY | 2,315 | $13,527,046 | $5,844 |
| 57 | KNOX COUNTY | 49,180 | $287,009,592 | $5,836 |
| 58 | UNION COUNTY | 2,830 | $16,514,282 | $5,835 |
| 59 | MARSHALL COUNTY | 4,546 | $26,452,590 | $5,819 |
| 60 | CARTER COUNTY | 5,676 | $32,968,274 | $5,808 |
| 61 | HARDEMAN COUNTY | 4,308 | $24,971,532 | $5,797 |
| 62 | *LEBANON | 2,685 | $15,534,321 | $5,786 |
| 63 | GILES COUNTY | 4,377 | $25,221,586 | $5,762 |
| 64 | WASHINGTON COUNTY | 7,979 | $45,667,452 | $5,724 |
| 65 | HAWKINS COUNTY | 6,524 | $37,031,971 | $5,677 |
| 66 | SHELBY COUNTY | 42,425 | $240,492,416 | $5,669 |
| 67 | LOUDON COUNTY | 4,503 | $25,520,450 | $5,667 |
| 68 | RUTHERFORD COUNTY | 24,482 | $138,697,252 | $5,665 |
| 69 | CLAY COUNTY | 1,158 | $6,548,845 | $5,654 |
| 70 | RHEA COUNTY | 3,456 | $19,536,084 | $5,653 |
| 71 | BLOUNT COUNTY | 10,019 | $56,565,557 | $5,646 |
| 72 | CAMPBELL COUNTY | 5,709 | $32,050,589 | $5,614 |
| 73 | OBION COUNTY | 3,862 | $21,561,720 | $5,583 |
| 74 | WAYNE COUNTY | 2,481 | $13,839,965 | $5,578 |
| 75 | ROGERSVILLE | 587 | $3,266,364 | $5,566 |
| 76 | WILSON COUNTY | 10,939 | $60,833,572 | $5,561 |
| 77 | STEWART COUNTY | 1,940 | $10,754,692 | $5,543 |
| 78 | LAUDERDALE COUNTY | 4,337 | $24,021,835 | $5,538 |
| 79 | COFFEE COUNTY | 3,912 | $21,602,249 | $5,522 |
| 80 | WARREN COUNTY | 5,901 | $32,518,414 | $5,511 |
| 81 | ROBERTSON COUNTY | 9,283 | $51,065,820 | $5,501 |
| 82 | LINCOLN COUNTY | 3,859 | $21,218,897 | $5,498 |
| 83 | MONTGOMERY COUNTY | 22,745 | $124,477,129 | $5,473 |
| 84 | MARION COUNTY | 3,837 | $20,972,455 | $5,466 |
| 85 | *PARIS | 1,409 | $7,700,165 | $5,466 |
| 86 | DICKSON COUNTY | 7,561 | $41,307,491 | $5,463 |
| 87 | *W. CARROLL | 1,097 | $5,984,266 | $5,457 |
| 88 | FENTRESS COUNTY | 2,219 | $12,093,599 | $5,449 |
| 89 | MACON COUNTY | 3,386 | $18,443,249 | $5,447 |
| 90 | COCKE COUNTY | 4,374 | $23,811,140 | $5,443 |
| 91 | HICKMAN COUNTY | 3,519 | $19,144,772 | $5,440 |
| 92 | SUMNER COUNTY | 21,471 | $116,672,396 | $5,434 |
| 93 | CROCKETT COUNTY | 1,582 | $8,561,098 | $5,411 |
| 94 | BRADLEY COUNTY | 8,398 | $45,373,330 | $5,403 |
| 95 | MCNAIRY COUNTY | 3,846 | $20,732,834 | $5,391 |
| 96 | OVERTON COUNTY | 2,887 | $15,558,503 | $5,389 |
| 97 | LAWRENCE COUNTY | 6,506 | $35,056,884 | $5,388 |
| 98 | MORGAN COUNTY | 3,072 | $16,534,294 | $5,381 |
| 99 | ETOWAH | 372 | $1,984,974 | $5,341 |
| 100 | MCMINN COUNTY | 5,342 | $28,531,250 | $5,341 |
| 101 | MONROE COUNTY | 4,680 | $24,982,376 | $5,339 |
| 102 | HUMPHREYS COUNTY | 2,862 | $15,269,251 | $5,335 |
| 103 | HENDERSON COUNTY | 3,206 | $17,082,611 | $5,328 |
| 104 | *TRENTON | 1,362 | $7,252,961 | $5,326 |
| 105 | JACKSON COUNTY | 1,534 | $8,163,524 | $5,321 |
| 106 | JEFFERSON COUNTY | 6,417 | $33,987,069 | $5,297 |
| 107 | PUTNAM COUNTY | 8,981 | $47,361,952 | $5,274 |
| 108 | DEKALB COUNTY | 2,440 | $12,856,708 | $5,269 |
| 109 | MEIGS COUNTY | 1,694 | $8,922,401 | $5,268 |
| 110 | FAYETTEVILLE | 1,034 | $5,443,947 | $5,266 |
| 111 | *MILAN | 1,954 | $10,266,884 | $5,254 |
| 112 | SEQUATCHIE COUNTY | 1,713 | $8,962,125 | $5,232 |
| 113 | *RICHARD CITY | 275 | $1,433,529 | $5,218 |
| 114 | CANNON COUNTY | 1,967 | $10,210,366 | $5,191 |
| 115 | CUMBERLAND COUNTY | 6,261 | $32,341,912 | $5,166 |
| 116 | GREENE COUNTY | 6,599 | $33,935,351 | $5,142 |
| 117 | TIPTON COUNTY | 9,383 | $48,215,594 | $5,139 |
| 118 | CHEATHAM COUNTY | 6,517 | $33,379,640 | $5,122 |
| 119 | *MCKENZIE | 1,259 | $6,394,952 | $5,081 |
| 120 | SWEETWATER | 1,373 | $6,975,340 | $5,079 |
| 121 | BELLS | 366 | $1,856,104 | $5,078 |
| 122 | *S. CARROLL | 395 | $2,007,395 | $5,078 |
| 123 | *BRADFORD | 616 | $3,109,328 | $5,045 |
| 124 | WEAKLEY COUNTY | 4,692 | $23,635,046 | $5,037 |
| 125 | HOUSTON COUNTY | 1,338 | $6,734,133 | $5,034 |
| 126 | BEDFORD COUNTY | 5,832 | $29,315,447 | $5,026 |
| 127 | ALAMO | 542 | $2,712,648 | $5,004 |
| 128 | *HUNTINGDON | 1,297 | $6,465,905 | $4,986 |
| 129 | GRAINGER COUNTY | 3,037 | $15,137,208 | $4,985 |
| 130 | WHITE COUNTY | 3,649 | $17,896,051 | $4,904 |
| 131 | LEWIS COUNTY | 1,827 | $8,884,085 | $4,863 |
| 132 | TROUSDALE COUNTY | 1,229 | $5,957,160 | $4,847 |
| 133 | CHESTER COUNTY | 2,350 | $11,296,064 | $4,807 |
| 134 | *GIBSON CO. SPEC. | 2,455 | $11,690,328 | $4,761 |
| 135 | *HOLLOW ROCK-BR | 778 | $3,702,231 | $4,759 |
| 136 | DAYTON | 707 | $3,165,505 | $4,480 |
| 137 | SMITH COUNTY | 3,031 | $13,415,539 | $4,427 |
| 138 | CARROLL COUNTY | 1 | $2,781,876 | N/A |
| 139 | GIBSON COUNTY | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| GRAND TOTAL | 844,497 | $5,113,098,097 | $6,055 | |
| * SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ||||
| **NOTE: TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES INCLUDE: CURRENT EXPENDITURES PER | ||||
| LEA FINANCIAL REPORT (EXCLUDING STUDENT BODY EDUCATION, ADULT EDUCATION, | ||||
| TRANSPORTATION, AND FOOD SERVICES); U.S.D.A. COMMODITY VALUE; AND STATE | ||||
| LEVEL PROGRAM AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. |