Per-pupil spending inches up slightly in public schools
Average per-pupil spending in U.S. public schools was $10,700 during fiscal year 2013, a 0.9 percent increase from 2012.
State-by-state figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau range from a high of $19,818 in New York and a low of $6,555 in Utah.
The Census Bureau's Public Education Finances: 2013 says that the states and state-equivalents spending the most per pupil in 2013 were, except for Alaska, concentrated on the East Coast: New York ($19,818), the District of Columbia ($17,953), New Jersey ($17,572) and Connecticut ($16,631). Alaska ($18,175) had the second-highest cost-per-pupil.
States spending the least per pupil were found in the West and South: Utah ($6,555), Idaho ($6,791), Arizona ($7,208), Oklahoma ($7,672) and Mississippi ($8,130).
Of the 100 largest school systems by enrollment, the top five districts for per-pupil spending were Boston City Schools ($20,502), New York City School District ($20,331), Anchorage (Alaska) School District ($15,419), Montgomery County (Md.) Schools ($15,080) and Baltimore City Schools ($15,050).
About the Author
Mike Kennedy
Senior Editor
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.