Enrollment in Muskogee Public Schools (MPS) has declined by nearly 900 students, a 13 percent decrease, over the last decade. Over that same time, total revenues have fallen by 5 percent.

Thus, since 2010, MPS has seen its per-pupil revenue grow from $10,405 to $11,350, a 9 percent increase. That amounts to nearly $284,000 for a classroom of 25 students. The average salary for a classroom teacher in Muskogee is $55,969 (including fringe benefits).

Over that same time, total revenues fell from $68.3 million to $64.5 million, a $3.7 million decrease. (It’s important to note that for nearly every district in Oklahoma 2010 and 2011 were much higher revenue years due to an influx of federal revenue.)

Sources: Oklahoma State Department of Education District Reports; inflation adjustments by author to 2020 dollars using the CPI inflation calculator

While MPS revenue has remained relatively steady, its share of spending on instruction has fallen throughout the decade. In 2010, MPS spent 48.3 percent of its total expenditures on instruction. In 2019 that had fallen to 44.1 percent.

Sources: Oklahoma State Department of Education District Reports