We are failing children !! Half of our future can’t read, write or do math at grade level !! Why continue to experiment with failed curriculum in our schools? Frank Pendleton has a better way: Cut taxes, slash admin waste, and pay our teachers what they deserve.
Taxpayers in Platte County invest heavily in public education. Yet proficiency rates show that many students are not reading or doing math at grade level. Where is the money going?
| District | Approx. Per-Pupil Spending | Revenue per Student | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platte County R-III | $11,685 – $12,429 | $15,570 | Current expenditures (NCES/US News data). Serves Platte City area. ~4,300 students. |
| Park Hill School District | $13,934 – $15,433 | ~$16,900 | Larger southern Platte district (~12,000 students). Higher local tax base. |
| North Platte R-I | $13,124 | — | Smaller northern district. ~550 students. |
| Missouri State Average | ~$13,000 – $15,000 | — | National average ~$16,500. Platte districts are comparable. |
Sources: NCES, U.S. News, Niche.com, district reports (2022–2025 data; recent budgets show similar or higher totals including capital). Per-pupil figures reflect current expenditures.
Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) results — percentage of students proficient or advanced. "At grade level" typically means proficient or higher.
| District | Reading Proficient | Math Proficient | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platte County R-III | ~55–56% | ~52–55% | Elementary: 55% reading / 49% math. Only about half are at grade level. |
| Park Hill | 52% | 52% | Consistent across subjects. Elementary scores often lower (~45%). |
| North Platte R-I | 58% | 39% | Math particularly weak. Smaller district with room to improve. |
| Missouri (Statewide Context) | ~40–60% | ~40–50% | NAEP (national benchmark) shows even lower true proficiency (~35%). |
Sources: Niche.com (2024–25 MAP data), U.S. News, district performance reports. Proficiency = proficient or advanced on state assessments. Significant percentages of students are not at grade level.
Private schools in and around Platte County often deliver education at a lower cost to families than the per-pupil taxpayer investment in public schools — while maintaining smaller class sizes and direct accountability.
“I believe that life begins at conception and needs to be protected. My wife was adopted. I have met her birth mother. I know that I would not have her today if abortion had been legal then.”
Child safety must be non-negotiable. I support removing the expiration date on the prohibition of transgender care for minors and permanently barring transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that do not align with their biological sex.
“Why continue to experiment with failed curriculum in our schools? The science of reading (PHONICS) is proven to improve literacy. Whole-word/Site Word Methods and the Language Experience Approach have failed us. Problem based math & science instruction is much more effective than memorization of abstract concepts.”
Support the Parents' Bill of Rights (review curriculum, books, materials; access teacher info; object to inappropriate materials). 70% of K-5 assignments on paper/pen. Strengthen gifted education screening.
— Frank Pendleton
Property taxes fund the majority of local school spending. Frank will fight wasteful state spending and push policies that ease the burden on Platte County families.
Public districts spend heavily on support services and administration. Redirect those dollars from bureaucracy to classrooms — where they belong.
Give parents real power with education savings accounts and vouchers so funding follows the student — to public, private, or charter schools. This creates competition that rewards excellence and forces failing systems to improve.
Great teachers are the key to student success. Savings from reduced admin waste and more efficient choice-based systems should go directly to raising teacher compensation and supporting our educators.