Title: Why Richer Areas Get More School Funding Than Poorer Ones
Headings: Why Richer Areas Get More School Funding Than Poorer Ones
Why Richer Areas Get More School Funding Than Poorer Ones
What's behind the great divide of American schools.
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In fall 2015, more than 50 million children in the US attended a public primary or secondary school to receive an education. But how much does an education in the US cost? Well, it depends where you live. The National Center for Educational Statistics reports that the average per-student expenditure in public schools was $12,605 for the 2015-16 academic year. Utah spends around $6,555 per pupil while New York spends $19,818, according to a report by the US Census Bureau. This number even varies by school districts. At the low end of spending in the 100 largest school districts in the US is Jordan, Utah, at $5,708 per student; at the high end is Boston, Mass., at $20,502. One reason for the difference is the varying cost of living nationwide, which affect everything from teacher salaries to building and maintenance fees. Another reason is education spending in high- or low-income areas.