Why Giving Matters
California currently ranks 45 out of 50 states in spending per pupil based on Education Week’s January 2008 report. Since Proposition 13 passed in 1978, funding for public education has been constrained. School districts throughout California have had to rely on financial support from parents and community members to meet essential school needs.
Miramonte is part of the Acalanes Union High School district which ranks 77th of the 88 high school districts in California in terms of revenue limit funding received from the state. Per student state funding at Miramonte is about 20% less than comparably ranked schools in California and up to 40% less than comparable schools in other states such as Connecticut or Illinois. Click here to see the District Comparison for student funding.
Were Miramonte a private school, tuition would be tens of thousands of dollars. Miramonte would continue to seek additional fundraising and parents would continue to pay taxes.
Funding from parent organizations, Education Foundation of Orinda and parcel taxes represent 19% of the 2008-2009 budget. These critical funding sources are essential to providing the superior education expected of the Miramonte community. The State of California continues to experience budget constraints and consequently Miramonte will have to increase private funding from the Parents' Club and the Education Foundation of Orinda to maintain educational excellence.
| 1 |
AUHSD statewide API ranking |
| 11 |
Miramonte statewide API ranking |
| 45 |
California’s state ranking in per pupil spending |
| 77 |
AUHSD ranking in terms of revenue limit funding from the state out of 88 districts |
| 20% |
Percentage of funding from parcel taxes, EFO and Parents’ Club |
| 1155 |
Number of Miramonte families |
| 1353 |
Number of Miramonte students |
We cannot afford to take Miramonte’s excellence for granted. It is easy to give to Miramonte Parents’ Club. Public funding alone will never guarantee academic excellence or well-equipped classes for our students. Very simply stated, giving to the Parents’ Club is essential to continue Miramonte academic excellence.
