New York State Ranks Highest in Nation in Per Pupil Spending

• For the 2012-13 school year,* New York State was the highest among the states in per pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary education at $19,818, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This amount is:
  • an increase of 1.4 percent from the previous year; and
  • 85.2 percent higher than the national average of $10,700 per pupil.
• Over the five years prior to 2012-13, annual per pupil spending has increased an average of 2.3 percent in New York State, compared to 0.5 percent for the nation.

Local Governments Represent the Largest Source of Funding

• In 2013-14, support for public elementary and secondary schools came from the following sources:
  • State, $24.9 billion, including the School Tax Relief Program (STAR) of $3.3 billion;
  • local, $35.2 billion; and
  • federal, $2.5 billion.
• In school budgets proposed for the 2015-16 school year, property tax levy increases averaged 1.6 percent, which is lower than the:
  • 1.9 percent average increase last year; and
  • 2.8 percent average annual increase from 2011 to 2015.

*Most recent available year.