Public schools in New York spent more than any other state or state equivalent in 2008-09, the U.S. Census Bureau says. Data from the bureau’s Public Education Finances 2009 shows that New York public schools spent an average of $18,126 per pupil. Next highest in spending were Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Alaska and Vermont.
The greatest percentage increases in spending from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2009 were Washington, D.C. (12.4 percent), Utah (10.3 percent) and Minnesota (9.4 percent).
The Census Bureau also found that public school systems received $590.9 billion in funding in 2008-09, up 1.5 percent over 2007-08. State governments accounted for 46.7 percent of the funding; local sources accounted for 43.8 percent; and federal sources accounted for 9.5 percent.
