Finance
School finance is reported at the district (LEA) level. The figures below cover the full Seattle School District No. 1.
District finance data ingestion in progress.
The NCES F-33 survey reports annual district-level revenue (federal/state/local) and expenditures (instruction, support services, capital) for every US public school district. Per-pupil spending is derived from total expenditure ÷ enrollment and is a standard comparison metric across districts.
The NCES F-33 survey reports annual district-level revenue (federal/state/local) and expenditures (instruction, support services, capital) for every US public school district. Per-pupil spending is derived from total expenditure ÷ enrollment and is a standard comparison metric across districts.
US public school funding 101
- Local revenue (property taxes) is typically the largest source in most states, though this varies widely.
- State revenue equalization formulas aim to reduce disparities between wealthy and poor districts.
- Federal revenue is usually 6-10% of budget — Title I (poverty), IDEA (special education), ESSER (COVID relief).
- Per-pupil spending varies from under $10,000 to over $30,000 across states; California averages around $15,000, New York around $28,000.