States where schools spend the most on administration

Nationwide, the average per pupil spending for general administration in fiscal 2016 was $226.

North Dakota public schools spent the most per pupil on general administration in fiscal 2016, statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show.

The $575 per pupil spent on general school administration in North Dakota was twice as much as the national average. Census figures show that for the United States, the average per pupil spending for general administration in fiscal 2016 was $226.

The Census Bureau defines general administation expenses as "expenditure for board of education and executive administration (office of the superintendent) services."

A report from the Metropolitan Planning Council in the Chicago area notes that Illinois is the state with the third-largest per pupil expenditure on general administration—$544—despite its large size and population density.

Here are the 10 states with the highest per-pupil spending on general administration in 2016.

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.

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