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An Historical Overview of Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education, by State: Fiscal Years 1990–2002

Chapter 3: Total Expenditures

In FY 90, inflation-adjusted total expenditures were $298.6 billion for public elementary and secondary education (table 5.a).18 This figure had risen to $435.4 billion by FY 02, an increase of $136.8 billion, or 46 percent (table 5.b).19 Nevada experienced the largest increase in total expenditures between FY 90 and FY 02 (122 percent). The smallest increase was in Wyoming (10 percent). Between FY 90 and FY 02, expenditures increased by more than 50 percent in 13 states (Nevada, Idaho, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Utah, California, New Mexico, Delaware, Colorado, Illinois, South Carolina, and Massachusetts).

From FY 90 through FY 96, total expenditures increased annually by approximately 2 percent (figure 3-1). From FY 96 through FY 02, they increased between about 4 and 5 percent annually. Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New Mexico experienced an increase in total expenditures each year during the 13-year period. The District of Columbia and the remaining states experienced at least one decrease in total expenditures during this time (table 5.b).

Total expenditures per pupil

As illustrated in figure 3-2, total expenditures per pupil in the United States increased from $7,365 in FY 90 to $9,139 in FY 02 (table 5.c). In FY 90, total expenditures per pupil ranged from a low of $4,127 in Utah to a high of $11,972 in Alaska. By FY 02, total expenditures per pupil were lowest in Mississippi at $5,934 and highest in New Jersey at $13,095. Total expenditures per pupil were $15,201 in the District of Columbia.20

Total expenditures per pupil for the United States increased $1,774, or 24 percent between FY 90 and FY 02 (table 5.d). They increased the most in Idaho (51 percent); Alaska and Florida were the only states to experience a decrease (4 percent and 3 percent, respectively). The median percent change among the states between FY 90 and FY 02 was 28 percent (derived from table 5.d).

From FY 90 through FY 96, the annual percent change in adjusted total expenditures per pupil in the United States ranged from a low of 0 percent to a high of 1 percent. Between FY 96 and FY 97, total expenditures per pupil increased almost 2 percent; from FY 97 through FY 01, they increased approximately 4 percent each year; and between FY 01 and FY 02, they increased nearly 2 percent. Every state and the District of Columbia experienced at least one annual decrease in total expenditures per pupil during the 13-year period.

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18 Refer to appendix A for the definition of expenditures items included in this chapter.
19 Please note that the data presented in this chapter are adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index.
20 Please note that the District of Columbia is a single urban school district and is not comparable with other states.