New York State Ranks Highest in Nation in Per Pupil Spending

• For the 2014-15 school year,* New York State was the highest among the states in per pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary education at $21,206, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This amount is:
  • An increase of 2.9 percent from the previous year; and
  • 86.1 percent higher than the national average of $11,392 per pupil.
• Between 2010-11 and 2014-15, annual per pupil spending has increased an average of 2.7 percent annually in New York State, compared to 1.9 percent for the nation.

Local Governments Represent the Largest Source of Funding

• In 2015-16, support for public elementary and secondary schools came from the following sources:
  • State, $27.4 billion, including the School Tax Relief Program (STAR) of $3.3 billion;
  • Local, $35.8 billion; and
  • Federal, $2.4 billion.
• In school budgets proposed for the 2017-18 school year, property tax levy increases averaged 1.7 percent, which is approximately the same as the: 
  • 0.6 percent average increase last year; and
  • 1.7 percent average annual increase from school years 2012-13 through 2016-17.

*Most recent available year.