Finally some good news on Houston school spending
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The report card is in on Texas school construction in and Houston has much to be proud of, according to a report released Monday by Comptroller Susan Combs.
The Houston metro area has the lowest per square foot cost for new schools of anywhere in the state. Houston averages 135 dollars per square foot of new school. That's 12 percent below the statewide average of 154 dollars.
Austin, Dallas, El Paso and San Antonio are all above the statewide average.
Pre-K campuses are actually the most expensive to build statewide. according to the report. High schools which include labs, stages and special spaces are next.
The comptroller's report doesn't suggest too much on why Houston is doing better than other areas. In a case study of the Cy-Fair District, which is the cheapest in the state -- 31 percent cheaper than the statewide average -- the study's authors suggest the rapidly growing Cy-Fair's experience in construction may be delivering the savings.
They build new schools a year and a half faster than the average and use a common concept in designing schools.
The report also features an interactive map so you can see how your district is doing. Click here to see that.
