New York State Ranks Highest in Nation in Per Pupil Spending

• For the 2013-14 school year,* New York State was the highest among the states in per pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary education at $20,610, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This amount is:
  • an increase of 4.0 percent from the previous year; and
  • 87.2 percent higher than the national average of $11,009 per pupil.
• Between 2009-10 and 2013-14, annual per pupil spending has increased an average of 2.6 percent annually in New York State, compared to 0.9 percent for the nation.

Local Governments Represent the Largest Source of Funding

• In 2014-15, support for public elementary and secondary schools came from the following sources:
  • State, $25.9 billion, including the School Tax Relief Program (STAR) of $3.3 billion;
  • local, $34.8 billion; and
  • federal, just under $2.0 billion.
• In school budgets proposed for the 2016-17 school year, property tax levy increases averaged 0.7 percent, which is lower than the:
  • 1.6 percent average increase last year; and
  • 2.2 percent average annual increase from 2012 to 2017.

*Most recent available year.