National Public School Spending Up Slightly

WASHINGTON — Public school systems spent slightly more on students during 2013 versus 2012, according to data released in June by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Per-pupil spending for the nation reached $10,700 during fiscal year 2013, a 0.9 percent increase from 2012, but varied heavily from state to state.

The findings come from a report by the Census Bureau titled Public Education Finances: 2013, which provides figures on revenues, expenditures, debt and assets (cash and security holdings) for the nation’s elementary and secondary public school systems. The report, released annually, includes statistics on spending — such as instruction, student transportation, salaries and employee benefits — at the national, state and school district levels.

“These statistics provide researchers, policymakers and the public with a picture of the nation’s public school system education revenue and spending,” said Stephen Wheeler, an analyst with the Census Bureau’s educational finance branch, in a statement. “These data are used in a variety of important economic measures such as the Department of Education’s Title I Grants and the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ gross domestic product measure.”

Areas that spent the most per pupil in 2013 were New York ($19,818), Alaska ($18,175), the District of Columbia ($17,953), New Jersey ($17,572) and Connecticut ($16,631). Areas that spent the least per pupil included Utah ($6,555), Idaho ($6,791), Arizona ($7,208), Oklahoma ($7,672) and Mississippi ($8,130).

Expenditures by public school systems totaled $596.3 billion in fiscal year 2013, up 0.5 percent from the prior year. This breaks a three-year trend of decreasing total expenditures for elementary and secondary education. Public education expenditure categories include instructional spending, support service spending, capital outlay and other spending. Total school district debt increased by 3.2 percent, from $402.2 billion in fiscal year 2012 to $415.2 billion in 2013.

Expenditures for instruction amounted to $321.3 billion (60.6 percent) of total current spending. Instructional salaries are the largest expenditure category for public elementary and secondary education, which accounted for 34.9 percent or $208 billion. Expenditures for support services amounted to $181.7 billion, a 1 percent increase from the prior year. Expenditures on student transportation were $23.4 billion, a 1.2 percent increase from 2012 figures. Revenue contributions from all sources to elementary and secondary education revenue amounted to $597.9 billion, up 0.6 percent from the previous year.