Data / Rankings / Public school current spending per pupil / US states

US states by public school current spending per pupil

New York had the highest public school current spending per pupil of 51 states in 2019, at $25,139. Idaho had the lowest, at $7,985. The median was $12,450 and the figure for the United States was $13,187. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest25,139New York
Lowest7,985Idaho
Median12,45051 states
United States13,187History

Map of states, 2019

Alabama: 10,077 USDAlaska: 18,394 USDArizona: 8,625 USDArkansas: 10,388 USDCalifornia: 14,034 USDColorado: 11,030 USDConnecticut: 21,310 USDDelaware: 16,315 USDDistrict of Columbia: 22,562 USDFlorida: 9,645 USDGeorgia: 11,228 USDHawaii: 16,132 USDIdaho: 7,985 USDIllinois: 16,227 USDIndiana: 10,397 USDIowa: 11,907 USDKansas: 11,926 USDKentucky: 11,291 USDLouisiana: 11,755 USDMaine: 14,614 USDMaryland: 15,148 USDMassachusetts: 17,748 USDMichigan: 12,756 USDMinnesota: 13,387 USDMississippi: 9,284 USDMissouri: 11,200 USDMontana: 12,018 USDNebraska: 12,743 USDNevada: 9,344 USDNew Hampshire: 17,462 USDNew Jersey: 20,512 USDNew Mexico: 10,177 USDNew York: 25,139 USDNorth Carolina: 9,857 USDNorth Dakota: 14,004 USDOhio: 13,538 USDOklahoma: 9,323 USDOregon: 12,450 USDPennsylvania: 16,864 USDRhode Island: 16,750 USDSouth Carolina: 11,140 USDSouth Dakota: 10,139 USDTennessee: 9,868 USDTexas: 9,827 USDUtah: 8,014 USDVermont: 20,315 USDVirginia: 12,641 USDWashington: 14,223 USDWest Virginia: 12,010 USDWisconsin: 12,598 USDWyoming: 16,304 USD
  • Under 9,900
  • 9,900 to 11K
  • 11K to 12K
  • 12K to 14K
  • 14K to 17K
  • 17K and over
USD, 2019. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2019

New York: 25,139 USDNew York25,139District of Columbia: 22,562 USDDistrict of Columbia22,562Connecticut: 21,310 USDConnecticut21,310New Jersey: 20,512 USDNew Jersey20,512Vermont: 20,315 USDVermont20,315Alaska: 18,394 USDAlaska18,394Massachusetts: 17,748 USDMassachusetts17,748New Hampshire: 17,462 USDNew Hampshire17,462Pennsylvania: 16,864 USDPennsylvania16,864Rhode Island: 16,750 USDRhode Island16,750Delaware: 16,315 USDDelaware16,315Wyoming: 16,304 USDWyoming16,304Illinois: 16,227 USDIllinois16,227Hawaii: 16,132 USDHawaii16,132Maryland: 15,148 USDMaryland15,148Maine: 14,614 USDMaine14,614Washington: 14,223 USDWashington14,223California: 14,034 USDCalifornia14,034North Dakota: 14,004 USDNorth Dakota14,004Ohio: 13,538 USDOhio13,538Minnesota: 13,387 USDMinnesota13,387Michigan: 12,756 USDMichigan12,756Nebraska: 12,743 USDNebraska12,743Virginia: 12,641 USDVirginia12,641Wisconsin: 12,598 USDWisconsin12,598Oregon: 12,450 USDOregon12,450Montana: 12,018 USDMontana12,018West Virginia: 12,010 USDWest Virginia12,010Kansas: 11,926 USDKansas11,926Iowa: 11,907 USDIowa11,907Louisiana: 11,755 USDLouisiana11,755Kentucky: 11,291 USDKentucky11,291Georgia: 11,228 USDGeorgia11,228Missouri: 11,200 USDMissouri11,200South Carolina: 11,140 USDSouth Carolina11,140Colorado: 11,030 USDColorado11,030Indiana: 10,397 USDIndiana10,397Arkansas: 10,388 USDArkansas10,388New Mexico: 10,177 USDNew Mexico10,177South Dakota: 10,139 USDSouth Dakota10,139Alabama: 10,077 USDAlabama10,077Tennessee: 9,868 USDTennessee9,868North Carolina: 9,857 USDNorth Carolina9,857Texas: 9,827 USDTexas9,827Florida: 9,645 USDFlorida9,645Nevada: 9,344 USDNevada9,344Oklahoma: 9,323 USDOklahoma9,323Mississippi: 9,284 USDMississippi9,284Arizona: 8,625 USDArizona8,625Utah: 8,014 USDUtah8,014Idaho: 7,985 USDIdaho7,985New York: 25,139 USDNew York25,139District of Columbia: 22,562 USDDistrict of Columbia22,562Connecticut: 21,310 USDConnecticut21,310New Jersey: 20,512 USDNew Jersey20,512Vermont: 20,315 USDVermont20,315Alaska: 18,394 USDAlaska18,394Massachusetts: 17,748 USDMassachusetts17,748New Hampshire: 17,462 USDNew Hampshire17,462Pennsylvania: 16,864 USDPennsylvania16,864Rhode Island: 16,750 USDRhode Island16,750Delaware: 16,315 USDDelaware16,315Wyoming: 16,304 USDWyoming16,304Illinois: 16,227 USDIllinois16,227Hawaii: 16,132 USDHawaii16,132Maryland: 15,148 USDMaryland15,148Maine: 14,614 USDMaine14,614Washington: 14,223 USDWashington14,223California: 14,034 USDCalifornia14,034North Dakota: 14,004 USDNorth Dakota14,004Ohio: 13,538 USDOhio13,538Minnesota: 13,387 USDMinnesota13,387Michigan: 12,756 USDMichigan12,756Nebraska: 12,743 USDNebraska12,743Virginia: 12,641 USDVirginia12,641Wisconsin: 12,598 USDWisconsin12,598Oregon: 12,450 USDOregon12,450Montana: 12,018 USDMontana12,018West Virginia: 12,010 USDWest Virginia12,010Kansas: 11,926 USDKansas11,926Iowa: 11,907 USDIowa11,907Louisiana: 11,755 USDLouisiana11,755Kentucky: 11,291 USDKentucky11,291Georgia: 11,228 USDGeorgia11,228Missouri: 11,200 USDMissouri11,200South Carolina: 11,140 USDSouth Carolina11,140Colorado: 11,030 USDColorado11,030Indiana: 10,397 USDIndiana10,397Arkansas: 10,388 USDArkansas10,388New Mexico: 10,177 USDNew Mexico10,177South Dakota: 10,139 USDSouth Dakota10,139Alabama: 10,077 USDAlabama10,077Tennessee: 9,868 USDTennessee9,868North Carolina: 9,857 USDNorth Carolina9,857Texas: 9,827 USDTexas9,827Florida: 9,645 USDFlorida9,645Nevada: 9,344 USDNevada9,344Oklahoma: 9,323 USDOklahoma9,323Mississippi: 9,284 USDMississippi9,284Arizona: 8,625 USDArizona8,625Utah: 8,014 USDUtah8,014Idaho: 7,985 USDIdaho7,985
USD. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2019
USD		Change on 2018
1New York25,139+4.5%
2District of Columbia22,562-0.9%
3Connecticut21,310+3.3%
4New Jersey20,512+5%
5Vermont20,315+5%
6Alaska18,394+3.8%
7Massachusetts17,748+4%
8New Hampshire17,462+3.4%
9Pennsylvania16,864+2.9%
10Rhode Island16,750+3.8%
11Delaware16,315+4.3%
12Wyoming16,304+0.5%
13Illinois16,227+3%
14Hawaii16,132+5.8%
15Maryland15,148+2.6%
16Maine14,614+3.3%
17Washington14,223+9.5%
18California14,034+15.6%
19North Dakota14,004+1.8%
20Ohio13,538+3.9%
21Minnesota13,387+3%
22Michigan12,756+3.3%
23Nebraska12,743-0.6%
24Virginia12,641+3.5%
25Wisconsin12,598+2.5%
26Oregon12,450+4.4%
27Montana12,018+2.9%
28West Virginia12,010+6%
29Kansas11,926+2.3%
30Iowa11,907+1.5%
31Louisiana11,755+2.6%
32Kentucky11,291+1.6%
33Georgia11,228+3.9%
34Missouri11,200+2.7%
35South Carolina11,140+2.6%
36Colorado11,030+8.1%
37Indiana10,397+1.3%
38Arkansas10,388+2.5%
39New Mexico10,177+6.2%
40South Dakota10,139+0.6%
41Alabama10,077+3.9%
42Tennessee9,868+3.4%
43North Carolina9,857+5.1%
44Texas9,827+2.3%
45Florida9,645+3.2%
46Nevada9,344+0.5%
47Oklahoma9,323+13.2%
48Mississippi9,284+3.9%
49Arizona8,625+4.5%
50Utah8,014+5.1%
51Idaho7,985+2.8%

Other periods

About this ranking

Current spending of public elementary and secondary school systems divided by their fall enrollment, in US dollars, from the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances (Table 8).

More on how it is measured
  • Current spending is instruction plus support services such as administration, transport and food services; it leaves out capital outlay, debt interest, payments to other school systems, and adult education and other programs outside kindergarten to grade 12.
  • The year is the fiscal year, which ends on 30 June in most states (2024 means July 2023 to June 2024).

Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation or for price differences between states. NCES publishes a similar per pupil figure from its own finance survey with a different enrollment base, so the two differ slightly.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total (US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html

MLA 9

Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total, US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 14 June 2022, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2019. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2019.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2022) Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total, US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_public_2019,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total: US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2019}},
  year = {2022},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2019. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total: US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2019
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/06/14
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2019.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest public school current spending per pupil?

New York, with $25,139 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest public school current spending per pupil?

Idaho, with $7,985 in 2019.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings