Kamal Ghorui
Public spending on US public education has increased sharply over recent years, even as student performance indicators continue to decline, according to government data cited by the The Hill. Per-pupil expenditure, staffing levels and administrative costs have all grown, while national assessments show weaker academic outcomes.Education finance figures reviewed by the The Hill indicate that the US spent $20,387 per pupil in 2024, compared with an average of $15,022 across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Total federal, state and local education spending rose to $946 billion in 2023 from $751 billion in 2019, despite falling student enrolment.Rising spending amid falling enrolmentPublic school enrolment declined from about 50.9 million students in 2019 to roughly 49.6 million in 2023, according to figures referenced by the The Hill. Over the same period, overall spending continued to rise, increasing the amount spent per student.Instructional spending per pupil rose modestly, from $9,422 in 2019 to $9,762 in 2023, as reported by the The Hill. Spending on salaries and benefits increased from $12,775 per student in 2019 to more than $13,000 in 2021. Average teacher pay, however, fell from nearly $74,000 in 2022 to below $71,000 in 2023, based on data cited by the The Hill.Staffing growth beyond classroomsStaffing numbers have also shifted. Total public school staff increased from 6.5 million in 2019 to 6.8 million, according to figures highlighted by the The Hill. Teachers accounted for fewer than half of all positions, with non-teaching staff numbering about 3.6 million compared with 3.2 million teachers.Long-term trends show sharper growth in non-teaching roles. Between 2002 and 2023, the number of teachers rose by 7.8 percent, while student support services staff increased by 125 percent and instructional coordinators by 118 percent, as reported by the The Hill. Administrative support staff grew by 43 percent, administrators by 39 percent, guidance counsellors by 28 percent and principals and assistant principals by 23 percent. The number of school librarians declined by 28 percent.Student performance indicatorsAcademic performance has moved in the opposite direction. The Nation’s Report Card data cited by the The Hill show that in 2024, 28 percent of eighth-grade students were proficient in maths, while 39 percent were rated below basic. In science, 31 percent reached proficiency and 38 percent fell below basic. Average eighth-grade reading scores dropped five points compared with 2019.Civics scores also weakened. The Hill reported that average eighth-grade civics results declined in 2022, marking the first year-on-year fall in that subject.Comparisons with non-public schoolsCost comparisons show wide variation. Private school tuition averages about $13,000 per year, according to figures referenced by the The Hill, while some states spend significantly more per public school student. New York state spent more than $33,000 per pupil last year, the outlet reported.Achievement data cited by the The Hill indicate that private, Catholic and charter schools outperform traditional public schools by about two grade levels on average, including among lower-income students.
