Teachers in the Sweet Home School District are the highest paid in Western New York, according to the latest rankings from Buffalo's Business First. Business First reporter Scott Thomas says Sweet Home tops the teacher pay list followed by Lackawanna, Kenmore-Tonawanda and Niagara Falls.
"It is a district that has the highest median salary for teachers, around $78,300, and it also has the highest peak salary, which the state defines as being a salary in the 95th percentile, right near the top of the payroll, that is just short of $100,000," Thomas told WBFO.
The Buffalo Public Schools ranks #87 when it comes to teachers pay, one of the 12 districts at the bottom of the list.
Thomas noted their listings show no correlation to teacher pay and student performance. He says the ratings are based on an analysis of salary levels at five selected points in teachers' careers.
Business First also issued administrative efficiency ratings for 98 area districts, finding that Lancaster is the leanest operation in the region.
"Lancaster has the third-lowest spending rate of any school district in the entire state. It also have a very high ratio of pupils to administrators, which is a sign of a lean staff," Thomas said.
Academic rankings from local districts will be released next week.