Every student receives a grade weight determined by his or her grade level.
We chose to provide middle school students with the largest weights because these students experience the largest drop-offs in student achievement.
We chose to fund grades 9–12 at a slightly higher level than grades K–5 for several reasons: older students tend to have higher costs for non-personnel (such as more costly science materials); they often take electives that break into smaller classes; their schools often require more administrative personnel. This approach is consistent with our historic funding practices and with practices in other cities.
All students receive FSF dollars through grade-level weights.
Schools with non-traditional grade configurations receive their base weight funding in more than one category. For example, a K–8 school receives the K–5 weight for the K–5 grades and a 6–8 weight for the 6–8 grades. A 6th grader carries the same weight whether at a 6–8, a K–8, or a 6–12 school.