4.2. Overview of SIG-Eligible and SIG-Awarded Schools

Exhibit 11 summarizes the distribution of SIG-eligible Tier I, II, and III schools for each state. Among 49 states and the District of Columbia, 15,277 schools, or 16 percent of all schools nationwide, are eligible for School Improvement Grants under ARRA. By state, the proportion of schools eligible for SIG awards varies widely, ranging from 2 percent of schools in Oklahoma and South Carolina to over half (56 percent) of schools in the District of Columbia. The majority of SIG-eligible schools (86 percent) are Tier III schools, while Tier I and Tier II schools each represent approximately 7 percent of all eligible schools. California has the largest number of eligible schools, with 2,720 schools, of which 189 are Tier I and Tier II schools. Pennsylvania has the largest combined number of Tier I and Tier II schools (200).

Exhibit 12 summarizes the distribution of SIG-awarded Tier I, II, and III schools for each state. Among the 49 states (and the District of Columbia) with available data, 1,228 schools have been awarded SIG funds, of which 42 percent are Tier I schools and 25 percent are Tier II schools. Eleven states awarded SIG funds to Tier III schools. Tier III schools constitute the majority of SIG-eligible schools (86 percent) but the minority of SIG-awarded schools (33 percent). With 105 SIG-awarded schools, Kentucky funded both the largest number of schools and the largest proportion of SIG-eligible schools (97 percent); among states with available information, Delaware has the fewest SIG-awarded schools (2 schools).