D.C. and Maryland public schools spend among the highest amounts per student in the nation, with Virginia trailing close behind, according to the most recent Census Bureau figures. The figures, based on the 2008-09 school year, hardly correlate with statewide educational success. D.C. Public Schools, consistently ranking among the worst in the nation based on state-to-state rankings, spent $16,408 per pupil — second only to New York schools’ $18,126 per pupil.
Maryland and Virginia’s spending placed 10th and 18th, respectively, even as the two states perennially land at the top of nationwide rankings. Maryland’s public schools have earned the top spot on Education Week’s annual state rankings since 2009.
School administrative costs in the District and Maryland topped the nation, too, according to the census data. D.C. ranked first in terms of per-pupil spending directed to school administrators, at $1,730. Maryland took third at $953. The U.S. average is $647.
| Bang for the buck? | ||||||
| State | Per student spending (2008-09) | Average SAT score (2010) | Education Week ranking (2011) | |||
| D.C. | $16,408 | 1,404 | 50th | |||
| Maryland | $13,449 | 1,502 | 1st | |||
| Virginia | $10,930 | 1,521 | 4th | |||
| U.S. average | $10,499 | 1,509 | NA | |||
| The 10 big spenders | ||||||
| State | Per-pupil spending | |||||
| New York | $18,126 | |||||
| District | $16,408 | |||||
| New Jersey | $16,271 | |||||
| Alaska | $15,552 | |||||
| Vermont | $15,175 | |||||
| Wyoming $14,573 | ||||||
| Connecticut | $14,531 | |||||
| Massachusetts | $14,118 | |||||
| Rhode Island | $13,707 | |||||
| Maryland | $13,449 | |||||
Still, per-pupil spending varies greatly district to district within each state since school systems are funded largely by local property taxes, said Fairfax County School Board member Jane Strauss. On top of that, per-student costs vary widely depending on individual needs.
“When we determine how many staff members an individual school is going to get, our formula is based on the needs of each child,” she said. “A child with special needs counts as more than one. A child in poverty counts as more than one. A child for whom English is not the first language counts more.”
The greater needs factor helps to explain why D.C. schools appear so lavish in their spending, as well. Compared with the 50 states, and especially its relatively wealthy neighboring states, the District has a far greater percentage of students with needs that require ?– often by law — higher staffing levels.
A spokeswoman for D.C. Public Schools commended the city’s higher outlay for education over the past decade, calling it “a great thing for the District and for our students.”
She also questioned the formula used by the Census Bureau data-crunchers. The direct per-pupil spending available to principals next year will be just over $10,000, she said.
In Maryland, Montgomery County teachers union President Doug Prouty said the locally funded share of per-pupil spending has dropped by $1,500 over the past three years.
The recession — not reflected in the Census Bureau’s 2008-09 numbers — also took a chunk out of administrative costs.
“Administrative costs have come down, and we’ve tried to focus the cuts there as much as possible,” he said.
