K-12 Education Spending Spotlight 2025: Annual public school spending nears $1 trillion

How much more can government spend on child public education? Like a bottomless pit? Of course, we all want the best education for our children, but at what price?

How much of it is wasted?

Notice also the wide range of government spending from lowest under $13,000 (Utah) to almost $37,000 (NY) per student. How is that possible?

"... Nationwide, public school funding increased by 35.8% between 2002 and 2023, rising from $14,969 per student to $20,322 per student after adjusting for inflation ...

The lowest-spending state, Idaho, was the only state spending less than $12,000 per student. Utah, Oklahoma and North Carolina spent less than $14,000 per student. ..."

K-12 Education Spending Spotlight 2025: Annual public school spending nears $1 trillion "Eight states spend more than $25,000 per student: New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, California, Rhode Island and Hawaii. Public school enrollment fell in 39 states from 2020 to 2023."