Westfield reader calls on voters to support school referendum

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Dear Editor:

Westfield Washington Schools (WWS) serves approximately 10,500 K-12 students across 10 schools. As one of the fastest-growing school districts in Indiana, its enrollment is projected to reach over 11,700 students by the mid-2030s.

WWS has been recognized as a top-tier school district both locally and nationally, consistently placing in the top tier of school systems. It holds an overall A+ rating from Niche and is highly ranked for academic proficiency and college readiness. The graduation rate is 98 percent.

A summary of how the district compares on state and national levels includes:

State rankings

• WWS is ranked No. 7 out of 291 public school districts in Indiana.
• Statewide test scores: the district ranks in the top 6 percent statewide across all testing areas.
• High school standing: Westfield High School ranks No. 9 in Indiana public high schools.
• Top elementary schools: Individual schools within the system, frequently secure spots in the top 10 elementary schools statewide.

National rankings

• Top 2 percent nationally: Niche places WWS at No. 140 out of 10,394 school districts in America, putting it firmly in the upper echelon of U.S. public education.
• High school national placement: S. News positions Westfield High School at No. 434 out of nearly 18,000 public high schools nationally, placing it in the top 4 percent of high schools across the country.
• Athletics: Nationally, WWS ranks No. 520 for student athletes due to robust sports programs.
• Teaching: the top 8 percent for quality of teaching staff.

That is who we, Westfield, are in the big picture. These accolades of our school system benefit all of our residents.

However, analyzing financial rankings shows a stark contrast between how much state funding the district receives versus the academic outcomes it delivers. WWS functions as a highly efficient but severely underfunded district compared to state and national averages.

Indiana state funding rankings

Public school funding in Indiana is heavily dictated by state tuition formulas. WWS ranks near the bottom in revenue despite its population size:

• State funding per student: WWS ranks No. 260 out of 290 school districts in Indiana for state-funded support. The district receives $558 less per student than the state average.
• Local referendum support: Within Hamilton County, WWS’s current 17-cent referendum rate is the second-lowest among its five neighboring school districts (the new referendum has a projected rate of 33.81 cents and would replace the current 17-cent rate, only putting Westfield’s rate in the middle of the local referendum pack.
• In contrast to its low funding ranking, independent data platforms like Niche rank WWS as the No. 7 overall best school district in Indiana out of nearly 300, highlighting WWS operational efficiency.

The funding gap

In the past, we have passed multiple referendums to support our schools and the results speak well in favor of supporting this new referendum. The performance of WWS warrants our faith and trust in them to manage the budget this referendum will fund. I am confident in the school system’s ability to properly steward the funds needed to maintain our school system as a growing, top-tier K-12 system.

The data from all rating services says we have one of the best school systems in the nation. Without the referendum, there will be risks to keeping and maintaining the current educational system and services it provides. If the referendum fails, we risk losing the state and national rankings we fought hard to achieve. Once lost, we may never get them back. These monies are going to 100 percent make up the difference between state and local funding and provide what is necessary to ensure our children have every opportunity to be “Life Ready” upon high school graduation. I happily support WWS and the education and opportunities this referendum will fund. I hope you will, too.

Ron Moore
Westfield