Abstract

Using Spatial Statistics to Clarify School and Neighborhood Poverty
Track: Administration and Policy
Authors: Doug Geverdt

Traditional school poverty indicators are based on the percent of students eligible for a federally subsidized lunch. This analysis applied empirical Bayesian kriging to American Community Survey data using the Geostatistical Analyst to create a new indicator of poverty in neighborhoods around schools. The indicator compared favorably with free lunch data reported by schools and may offer a useful new addition to help understand the effects of neighborhood poverty on schools and students. <br />