On average, according to a new Census Bureau report, our nation's public school system spent $10,615 per pupil in 2010. This is up 1.1 percent from 2009. The report details which states spent the least—Utah, Idaho and Arizona—and which states spent the most. Curious to see where your state stands? Click through to find out which states are the top 10 spenders.
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1. District of Columbia
Average spent per pupil: $18,667
Washington, D.C. receives most of its funding from local sources and only 6.7 percent of their total revenue from federal sources.
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2. New York
Average spent per pupil: $18,618
Out of the 50 largest school districts in the nation, the New York City School District spent the most per pupil—$19,597 to be exact. New York state also spent the most on instruction.
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3. New Jersey
Average spent per pupil: $16,841
New Jersey received less federal funding than Mississippi, the fifth lowest spending state, but made up for it in local funds. They rank second for spending on instruction.
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4. Alaska
Average spent per pupil: $15,783
Of the top ten spenders, Alaska received the most federal funding at an average of $2,796 per student. In fact, this state receives the second most funding at a federal level out of all 50.
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5. Vermont
Average spent per pupil: $15,274
Vermont has the highest state funding average in the nation at $14,625. However, it’s local funding is second to last with an average of $795.
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6. Wyoming
Average spent per pupil: $15,169
The average state and local funding for Wyoming overpowers its federal funding by almost 13 times.
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7. Connecticut
Average spent per pupil: $14,906
Connecticut is the third state that spent the most money on instruction. The majority of this state's funding is local.
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8. Massachusetts
Average spent per pupil: $14,350
Of our list of the top spenders, Massachusetts received the least amount of federal funding, with an average of $1,176 per student. Their local and state sources are close in value, making up for what is lacking in federal funding.
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9. Maryland
Average spent per pupil: $13,738
Of the 50 largest school districts, Maryland ranked at the top for per-pupil spending. Montgomery County public schools spent $15,582, Baltimore City spent $14,711, and Prince George’s County spent $14,019 per student. Maryland is the runner-up to Massachusetts for the lowest amount of federal funding out of these 10 states.
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10. Rhode Island
Average spent per pupil: $13,699
Of the top 10 spenders, Rhode Island ranks the lowest in state funding at $5,223. However, it ranks fifth for local funding, with an average of $8,577.
