$20,000 per pupil and declining results: Where does US public school money really go?
US public education spending has surged even as student outcomes have declined, according to data cited by the The Hill. Per-pupil spending reached $20,387 in 2024 while enrolment fell and teacher pay slipped. Staffing growth has been concentrated in administrative and support roles rather than classrooms. National assessments show weaker maths, reading and civics results, while private and charter schools deliver stronger outcomes at lower cost despite sustained increases in federal, state and local funding.
US public education spending has surged even as student outcomes have declined, according to data cited by the The Hill. Per-pupil spending reached $20,387 in 2024 while enrolment fell and teacher pay slipped. Staffing growth has been concentrated in administrative and support roles rather than classrooms. National assessments show weaker maths, reading and civics results, while private and charter schools deliver stronger outcomes at lower cost despite sustained increases in federal, state and local funding.
