New York State Ranks Highest in Nation in Per Pupil Spending

• For the 2016-17 school year,* New York State was the highest among the states in per pupil disbursements for current public elementary and secondary education at $23,091, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This amount is: 
  • An increase of 3.1 percent from the previous year; and
  • 89 percent higher than the national average of $12,201 per pupil.
• Between 2012-13 and 2016-17, per pupil spending has increased an average of 3.9 percent annually in New York State, compared to 3.3 percent for the nation.

Local Resources Represent the Largest Source of Funding

• In 2017-18, support for public elementary and secondary schools came from the following sources: 
  • Local, $41.1 billion; 
  • State, $28.5 billion, including the School Tax Relief Program (STAR) of $2.5 billion; and
  • Federal, $2.1 billion.
• In school budgets proposed for the 2019-20 school year, property tax levy increases averaged 2.5 percent, which is higher than the: 
  • 2.4 percent average increase last year; and
  • 1.7 percent average annual increase from school years 2015-16 through 2019-20.

* Most recent available year.