
Author
Evan Brooks
Data Editor
Data editor for the ByCounty Network, responsible for methodology documentation, source review, and editorial QA on county-level reports built from public datasets.
Evan Brooks is the editorial byline for ByCounty Network data review, methodology maintenance, and source attribution across the network.
The role is the data-editor role, not the subject-matter-expert role. ByCounty designs data pipelines that pull each dataset, documents the methodology behind every composite score and ranking, spot-checks generated narratives against the underlying statistics before publication, and records methodology changes. The sites are transparent data utilities, not professional advisory services.
When a feature genuinely requires domain expertise — a public-health analyst weighing in on CDC measure choice, a CPA reviewing a property-tax explainer — ByCounty uses a named co-byline reviewer rather than presenting the data editor as a domain-credentialed professional. The reviewer commitment for each site is documented on that site's editorial-standards page, including the recruit status when no domain reviewer is currently in place.
Every statistic on the site is traceable to a primary source, every methodology decision is documented, and every page lists a "Last reviewed" date where editorial review applies.
Coverage areas
- NCES Common Core of Data
- per-pupil spending analysis
- graduation-rate methodology
- NCES school-finance data
- individual-school profile data attribution
Articles by Evan on Schools By County
How to Evaluate Public School Metrics by County
A practical guide to reading county public school metrics using per-pupil spending, graduation rates, School Score, school counts, and district context.
Understanding Per-Pupil Spending Across America
Analysis of per-pupil education spending across all US counties. Examines geographic patterns, the relationship between spending and completion metrics, and how to read school-finance data.
How to Compare Counties for School Research
A neutral guide to comparing county-level school data with safety, affordability, and health context. Covers metrics, regional patterns, and data limitations.
Counties with the Highest School Scores in America
The 25 US counties with the highest School Scores, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance metrics.
Counties with the Highest Graduation Rates
The 25 US counties with the highest reported four-year public high school graduation rates in NCES adjusted cohort graduation-rate data.
Counties with the Highest Per-Pupil Spending
The 25 US counties with the highest per-pupil education spending. Where school districts invest the most in each student according to NCES data.
Counties with the Lowest School Scores
The 25 US counties with the lowest School Scores in the current NCES-backed dataset. A descriptive look at graduation and funding challenges.
Counties with the Lowest Graduation Rates
The 25 US counties with the lowest available high school graduation rates. Understanding communities where students face barriers to completion.
Counties with the Lowest Per-Pupil Spending
The 25 US counties with the lowest per-pupil education spending. Where school funding falls furthest below the national average and what it means for students.
County Per-Pupil Spending and Graduation Rates
A descriptive comparison of the highest-spending and lowest-spending US counties and their reported graduation rates.