In response to recent criticism that Wareham is spending too much on administrative costs, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood said that comparatively, they spend much less than other similar districts.

“We’re not top-heavy—we’re extremely lean,” said Shaver-Hood at a meeting of the School Committee on Wednesday. “We operate with less administrative structure than other like schools.”

Shaver-Hood said that out of the 11 school districts the Massachusetts Department of Education deemed similar to Wareham, they ranked tenth in administrative costs. The leading spender on the list, Gloucester, spent $636 per pupil expense on administrative costs, compared to Wareham’s $326. The state average is $471.

In all, Wareham spent $960,641 in 2013-14 on administrative costs, or 2.63 percent of their total expenditures, which were $36,497,321.

“I think it’s clear cut,” said committee member Geoff Swett in response to Shaver-Hood’s report.

Committee Chair Cliff Sylvia said that five years ago, the Wareham Public Schools were “over-administered.”

“If anything, we’re under-administered,” he said. “Unfortunately, I think that people have this idea that you can run a school system without administration. You just can’t do it. It’s not possible.

Sylvia said that at some point, the Committee would have to take a look and see if Wareham is spending too little on administration.

“At some point have to reevaluate,” said Sylvia.