Public school spending per student rose in 2022, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. On a national basis, per student spending increased 8.9 percent from $14,358 in fiscal year 2021 to $15,633 in fiscal year 2022. The report, titled the Bureau’s 2022 Annual Survey of School System Finances, details the largest increase in public school spending per pupil in the United States in more than 20 years, the report said. 

New York and the District of Columbia topped the list for most money spent per pupil at $29,873 and $27,425, respectively. The New York City School District had the highest spending per pupil among the 100 largest school systems at $35,914, followed by Washington Schools in the District of Columbia at $27,425. Utah and Idaho had the lowest spending per pupil at $9,552 and $9,670 respectively. 

Several school districts are having their per-student expenditures bolstered by federal sources including Mississippi, South Dakota and Montana, who are receiving the most funding. Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts had the lowest federal source funding. 

Overall school district debt rose by 2.1 percent, reaching $543 billion in 2022, up from $532 billion in 2021. Despite rising debts, school revenue from all sources in both elementary and secondary education rose by more than 8 percent, reaching $878 billion, with 13 percent coming from federal government contributions and 42 percent coming from local sources. 

Just over $362 billion was received from property taxes, accounting for 65 percent of revenue from local sources, and $383 billion was contributed by state governments. 

Total expenditures also grew in 2022, up 7.8 percent, reaching $857 billion in fiscal year 2022. The largest expenditure for public and secondary schools were salaries at $266 billion, equaling 31 percent of total expenditures.