COLUMBUS — Ontario and West Muskingum schools have more in common than enrollment and team colors. They are also the wealthiest districts in their respective counties. Those similarities end, however, when school offi cials talk about the classes and programs each district offers.

        Although they impose roughly the same property tax rates to run their schools, Ontario in Richland County in north-central Ohio can give students more computers and counselors while providing all-day, every day kindergarten classes.

        At crowded West Muskingum in south-central Ohio's Muskingum County, elementary students are tutored in hallways. A school library sits in an old modular trailer and the high school gymnasium bleachers do double duty as a study hall.

        What's the difference?

        In a state where property-rich schools spend $4,000 more per student than poor districts, records show Ontario outspends West Muskingum by about $450 per pupil.

        “The biggest problem is this idea that just because you live in a certain area, it determines what kind of education you get,” said Gary Ankrum, principal of West Muskingum High School.

        “It shouldn't be that way if it's public education.”

        The two schools illustrate the issues the Ohio Supreme Court is considering following oral arguments Wednesday presented by the state and a coalition of 550 schools in the school funding lawsuit.

        The court, which has twice declared the state's funding system unconstitutional, must decide if the General Assembly's $1.4 billion reform plan goes far enough to reduce the kind of funding gaps that exist between Ontario and West Muskingum.

        While the state says the plan guarantees an adequate education for all Ohio students, members of the Coalition for Equity and Adequacy point to wide spending gaps in Ohio districts.

        Among the biggest, Indian Hill Schools in Hamilton County spent $10,606 per student in 1999-2000, while Fairland Schools in Lawrence County spent $5,219 per pupil.

        The high court's landmark 4-3 ruling in 1997 and a second 4-3 decision in 1999 focused on adequacy.

        Essentially, the justices said the state wasn't providing enough money for all schools to operate effective ly.

        If the court again declares the funding system unconstitutional, lawmakers may be told not only to ensure enough money goes out, but that each district offers the same kinds of classes and programs.

        The same property tax rate in Ontario raises much more than in West Muskingum. Schools argue state funding should fill the gap.

        West Muskingum Superintendent Richard Murray doesn't see that happening.

        “It's going to take political will to solve this matter,” he said. “They continue to characterize these things as a tax increase instead of the educational opportunities that are being denied for boys and girls.”

        Ontario certainly is wealthy. A business-rich area with a mall, restaurants and a General Motors plant, it ranks 82nd wealthiest out of Ohio's 611 schools.

        In a mostly rural area, West Muskingum can't exactly cry poor when it is ranked 234.

        “People think that we're a wealthy district in our own community,” Mr. Murray said. “They just don't understand how a wealthy district has these problems.”

        Spending just $450 more per student gives Ontario several advantages:

        • New teachers will earn $26,950 in Ontario, compared to $24,500 at West Muskingum.

        • West Muskingum lacks the funds and space to offer Ontario's all-day kindergartens.

        • Ontario has 30 computers in a general high school lab. West Muskingum has no general lab.

        • Ontario has twice as many student counselors and librarians as West Muskingum.

        West Muskingum Elementary Principal Joanne Brown wonders why several nearby poorer districts get state money to provide all-day kindergartens.

        “Our kids are starting out with half the days of school that other kids get,” Ms. Brown said. “How are those kids supposed to catch up?”

        The Coalition for Equity and Adequacy — the schools coalition — describes West Muskingum as part of “the new poor.”

        Over the last decade, poor districts got more money and wealthy schools survived on their own. But those in the middle were left out, said Bill Phillis, who heads the coalition.

        “Our goal is to ensure that all districts have significant resources to meet state expectations,” Mr. Phillis said.

        Ontario is not a coalition member. Officials there say residents already have a good deal.

        “Our concern is what the state is going to do to us,” said Ontario Treasurer Randy Harvey.

        The solution to closing the gap between the Ontarios and West Muskingums might be a new, $300 million pot of state money called “parity aid.”

        But school advocates say it's underfunded.

        A district gets parity aid based on how it ranks below the top 20 percent of schools statewide in spending. The poorer the district, the more it receives.

        School supporters have argued that to truly bring everyone up, parity aid should be based on the 90th percentile. Such a move would have cost the state $1 billion more.

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