As a result of federal COVID-19 school relief funding amounting to $192 billion, spending to support public school teachers and students increased. At the same time, student transportation and food expenditures decreased, according to a 2021 survey from the Association of School Business Officials.
National tutoring service HeyTutor analyzed data from the National Center for Education Statistics to see how the pandemic affected public school spending, tracking expenditures by state between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 academic years.
Nationwide, school spending rose with the additional allocation of federal funding for pandemic relief efforts, including helping students catch up on lessons they lost during school shutdowns or remote learning periods. And the spending appears to have gone largely toward that overall goal, boosting amounts spent on teaching and special education.
Federal COVID-19 relief funding for the schools ends next year. An estimated $90 billion is left for K-12 schools to spend, according to a McKinsey & Company report.
Nearly all states increased per student spending from 2019 to 2021
Hawaii was the only state where per-student spending dropped, perhaps in part because the state saw higher-than-average drops in transportation and food service spending.
However, states's exact changes in overall spending varied as did their spending in several different categories, including direct instruction, services to support students—including special education, services to support teachers, transportation, food service, and other costs.
Read on to learn how school administrators around the nation spent the additional money their districts received.
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2 / 52#51. Hawaii
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $16,550, down 1.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,997, up 2.6% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,712, down 2.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $520, down 2.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $328, down 15.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $516, up 0.3% from 2019
-Food services: $646, down 22.1% from 2019
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3 / 52#50. Delaware
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $16,589, up 0.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,456, down 7.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,838, up 104.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $659, up 115.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $756, down 14.2% from 2019
-Other support services: $616, down 9.1% from 2019
-Food services: $449, down 29.2% from 2019
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
4 / 52#49. New York
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $26,097, up 0.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $17,734, down 0.2% from 2019
-Student support services: $781, down 7.2% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,094, up 44.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $1,281, down 8.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $990, down 0.8% from 2019
-Food services: $466, down 6.6% from 2019
#48. Connecticut
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $22,216, up 1.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $13,743, up 1.3% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,681, up 12.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $799, up 6.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $998, down 10.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $736, down 12.5% from 2019
-Food services: $374, down 16.7% from 2019
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6 / 52#47. Pennsylvania
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $17,822, up 1.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,094, up 2.5% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,108, up 7.9% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $673, up 5.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $708, down 16.0% from 2019
-Other support services: $759, up 12.2% from 2019
-Food services: $407, down 26.2% from 2019
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7 / 52#46. Missouri
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,999, up 1.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,824, up 3.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $856, up 9.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $466, down 0.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $539, down 14.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $284, up 13.0% from 2019
-Food services: $385, down 27.9% from 2019
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8 / 52#45. Alabama
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,728, up 2.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,356, up 6.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $800, up 16.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $462, up 6.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $520, down 6.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $283, up 16.4% from 2019
-Food services: $324, down 53.7% from 2019
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9 / 52#44. Alaska
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $19,540, up 2.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $10,413, up 2.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,496, up 1.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,889, up 18.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $567, down 12.4% from 2019
-Other support services: $821, up 10.4% from 2019
-Food services: $561, down 7.1% from 2019
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10 / 52#43. Tennessee
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,571, up 2.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,410, up 2.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $611, up 15.1% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $664, up 7.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $363, down 7.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $324, up 10.6% from 2019
-Food services: $476, down 12.1% from 2019
#42. Kentucky
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,016, up 2.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,177, up 4.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $654, up 11.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $629, up 3.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $566, down 13.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $348, up 13.9% from 2019
-Food services: $633, down 12.5% from 2019
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12 / 52#41. Iowa
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,714, up 2.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,560, up 1.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $790, up 6.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $813, up 3.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $413, down 7.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $411, up 9.0% from 2019
-Food services: $520, down 2.6% from 2019
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13 / 52#40. New Jersey
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $22,784, up 2.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $13,802, up 5.2% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,403, up 2.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $947, up 13.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $758, down 20.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $568, up 5.3% from 2019
-Food services: $348, down 26.2% from 2019
#39. Minnesota
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $14,213, up 2.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,206, up 3.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $476, up 15.1% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $776, up 14.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $730, down 10.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $398, up 19.7% from 2019
-Food services: $509, down 9.9% from 2019
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15 / 52#38. Ohio
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $14,389, up 3.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,676, up 4.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,080, up 9.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $544, up 3.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $597, down 11.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $694, up 3.7% from 2019
-Food services: $376, down 14.2% from 2019
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16 / 52#37. Rhode Island
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,810, up 3.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,400, up 4.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,047, up 5.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $746, up 5.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $695, down 14.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $798, up 4.5% from 2019
-Food services: $372, down 25.3% from 2019
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17 / 52#36. North Carolina
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,519, up 3.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,683, up 5.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $636, up 11.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $402, up 20.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $343, down 18.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $357, up 12.7% from 2019
-Food services: $394, down 20.3% from 2019
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18 / 52#35. South Dakota
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,095, up 3.4% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,563, up 3.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $647, up 7.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $425, up 9.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $373, down 5.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $411, down 1.1% from 2019
-Food services: $564, up 1.1% from 2019
#34. Nebraska
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,723, up 3.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,515, up 3.6% from 2019
-Student support services: $733, up 3.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $430, down 4.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $366, down 7.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $873, up 22.8% from 2019
-Food services: $533, down 1.9% from 2019
#33. California
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $14,697, up 3.7% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,635, up 2.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,005, up 8.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $927, up 5.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $241, down 22.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $821, up 25.6% from 2019
-Food services: $456, down 7.0% from 2019
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21 / 52#32. Wisconsin
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,687, up 3.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,076, up 4.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $758, up 11.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $847, up 13.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $443, down 21.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $743, up 11.6% from 2019
-Food services: $420, down 10.8% from 2019
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22 / 52#31. North Dakota
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $15,139, up 3.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,284, up 6.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $632, up 6.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $539, up 7.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $573, down 3.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $474, up 16.1% from 2019
-Food services: $695, up 1.2% from 2019
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23 / 52#30. Arkansas
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,239, up 3.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,222, up 2.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $638, up 5.9% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,013, up 14.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $372, down 8.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $378, up 10.2% from 2019
-Food services: $534, down 6.2% from 2019
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24 / 52#29. Georgia
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,108, up 4.0% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,462, up 6.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $716, up 9.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $613, up 0.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $500, down 10.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $422, up 5.5% from 2019
-Food services: $492, down 16.2% from 2019
#28. West Virginia
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,279, up 4.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,670, up 4.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $793, up 17.2% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $515, up 13.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $915, down 6.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $273, up 11.3% from 2019
-Food services: $814, up 3.2% from 2019
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26 / 52#27. Maryland
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $16,873, up 4.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,038, up 7.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $839, up 11.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $812, down 0.6% from 2019
-Student transportation: $703, down 17.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $471, up 5.7% from 2019
-Food services: $317, down 30.5% from 2019
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27 / 52#26. Florida
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,823, up 4.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,572, up 3.5% from 2019
-Student support services: $571, up 19.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $685, up 4.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $365, down 8.0% from 2019
-Other support services: $308, up 12.7% from 2019
-Food services: $452, down 12.1% from 2019
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28 / 52#25. Mississippi
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,060, up 4.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,763, up 5.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $582, up 12.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $466, up 6.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $427, down 9.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $289, up 9.9% from 2019
-Food services: $505, down 10.3% from 2019
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29 / 52#24. Washington
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $15,615, up 4.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $9,376, up 5.3% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,235, up 9.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,108, up 11.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $466, down 18.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $734, up 18.5% from 2019
-Food services: $355, down 11.7% from 2019
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30 / 52#23. Arizona
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $9,571, up 5.0% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,317, up 7.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $806, up 12.1% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $491, up 7.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $303, down 19.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $448, up 8.9% from 2019
-Food services: $373, down 19.1% from 2019
#22. Oklahoma
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,084, up 5.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,811, up 7.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $704, up 6.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $420, up 7.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $242, down 15.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $418, up 13.3% from 2019
-Food services: $487, down 13.5% from 2019
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32 / 52#21. Virginia
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,856, up 5.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $8,452, up 6.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $763, up 12.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,089, up 18.7% from 2019
-Student transportation: $605, down 12.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $256, up 14.6% from 2019
-Food services: $432, down 12.3% from 2019
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33 / 52#20. District of Columbia
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $25,113, up 5.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $12,626, up 5.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,461, up 17.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,160, down 3.7% from 2019
-Student transportation: $1,451, up 10.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $1,357, up 15.4% from 2019
-Food services: $423, down 48.4% from 2019
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34 / 52#19. Nevada
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $10,073, up 6.2% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,077, up 9.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $626, up 16.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $522, down 2.8% from 2019
-Student transportation: $324, down 11.2% from 2019
-Other support services: $416, up 9.1% from 2019
-Food services: $287, down 23.9% from 2019
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35 / 52#18. South Carolina
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,139, up 6.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,876, up 9.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $887, down 3.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $734, up 2.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $438, down 1.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $557, up 13.6% from 2019
-Food services: $484, down 13.9% from 2019
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36 / 52#17. Colorado
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,233, up 6.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,612, up 4.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $869, up 21.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $710, up 6.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $310, down 9.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $1,008, up 16.5% from 2019
-Food services: $319, down 11.8% from 2019
#16. Louisiana
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,183, up 6.4% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,267, up 5.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $813, up 4.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $697, up 7.7% from 2019
-Student transportation: $675, down 5.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $380, up 8.2% from 2019
-Food services: $645, down 1.3% from 2019
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38 / 52#15. Montana
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,262, up 6.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,821, up 6.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $876, up 2.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $450, down 0.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $589, down 0.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $408, up 15.8% from 2019
-Food services: $557, up 2.5% from 2019
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39 / 52#14. Michigan
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,351, up 6.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,547, up 5.9% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,151, up 12.2% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $742, up 11.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $453, down 14.3% from 2019
-Other support services: $801, up 23.2% from 2019
-Food services: $416, down 6.5% from 2019
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40 / 52#13. Oregon
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $13,820, up 6.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,988, up 6.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,217, up 15.3% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $557, up 8.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $499, down 15.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $1,030, up 26.3% from 2019
-Food services: $357, down 15.8% from 2019
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
41 / 52#12. New Hampshire
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $19,396, up 6.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $12,298, up 6.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,588, up 11.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $596, up 4.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $790, down 4.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $289, up 18.4% from 2019
-Food services: $357, down 16.8% from 2019
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42 / 52#11. Indiana
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,411, up 7.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,544, up 8.6% from 2019
-Student support services: $657, up 11.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $565, up 29.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $550, down 19.8% from 2019
-Other support services: $373, up 40.2% from 2019
-Food services: $426, down 14.9% from 2019
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43 / 52#10. Wyoming
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,140, up 7.6% from 2019
-Instruction: $10,686, up 6.5% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,131, up 8.6% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $822, down 1.4% from 2019
-Student transportation: $784, down 2.9% from 2019
-Other support services: $940, up 36.3% from 2019
-Food services: $588, up 13.9% from 2019
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44 / 52#9. Texas
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,049, up 7.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,547, up 9.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $614, up 15.4% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $591, up 9.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $296, down 4.4% from 2019
-Other support services: $571, up 16.7% from 2019
-Food services: $430, down 24.2% from 2019
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
45 / 52#8. Massachusetts
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $21,529, up 7.9% from 2019
-Instruction: $13,824, up 9.0% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,841, up 17.7% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,024, up 9.5% from 2019
-Student transportation: $800, down 13.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $413, up 10.7% from 2019
-Food services: $470, down 20.5% from 2019
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46 / 52#7. Idaho
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $9,054, up 8.3% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,502, up 10.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $536, up 9.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $519, up 9.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $354, down 6.1% from 2019
-Other support services: $273, up 18.4% from 2019
-Food services: $336, down 10.9% from 2019
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
47 / 52#6. Kansas
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $12,788, up 8.7% from 2019
-Instruction: $7,627, up 9.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $909, up 13.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $523, up 4.2% from 2019
-Student transportation: $486, down 1.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $373, up 16.2% from 2019
-Food services: $509, down 5.1% from 2019
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48 / 52#5. Vermont
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $24,050, up 9.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $14,965, up 8.8% from 2019
-Student support services: $2,022, up 15.8% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,019, up 7.9% from 2019
-Student transportation: $752, down 1.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $855, up 40.0% from 2019
-Food services: $636, up 8.3% from 2019
#4. Utah
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $9,014, up 9.1% from 2019
-Instruction: $5,716, up 9.7% from 2019
-Student support services: $512, up 29.0% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $409, up 9.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $236, down 4.2% from 2019
-Other support services: $288, up 8.7% from 2019
-Food services: $358, down 2.1% from 2019
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50 / 52#3. Illinois
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,527, up 9.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $11,585, up 11.4% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,450, up 18.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $713, up 10.0% from 2019
-Student transportation: $619, down 18.7% from 2019
-Other support services: $709, up 23.2% from 2019
-Food services: $363, down 13.3% from 2019
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51 / 52#2. New Mexico
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $11,912, up 9.5% from 2019
-Instruction: $6,951, up 12.1% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,300, up 16.5% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $297, up 5.1% from 2019
-Student transportation: $310, down 10.4% from 2019
-Other support services: $405, up 12.7% from 2019
-Food services: $415, down 20.6% from 2019
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
52 / 52#1. Maine
Total expenditures per student in 2021: $18,385, up 12.8% from 2019
-Instruction: $10,601, up 11.2% from 2019
-Student support services: $1,324, up 16.9% from 2019
-Instructional staff support: $1,073, up 33.3% from 2019
-Student transportation: $778, down 5.5% from 2019
-Other support services: $261, up 19.1% from 2019
-Food services: $505, down 19.9% from 2019
Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.
