The state share of revenues for public elementary and secondary schools generally grew from the 1930s through the mid-1980s, while the local share decreased during the same time period (see Digest of Education Statistics, 2017, table 235.10). However, this pattern changed in the late 1980s, when the local share began to increase at the same time the state share decreased. Between 1986–87 and 1993–94, the state share decreased from 49.7 percent to 45.2 percent, while the local share rose from 43.9 percent to 47.8 percent. Between 1993–94 and 2000–01, the state share rose again to 49.7 percent, the highest share since 1986–87, but decreased every school year thereafter until 2005–06, when the state share was 46.5 percent.
Total revenues were 8 percent higher in 2014–15 than in 2004–05, after adjustment for inflation. Federal revenues were 1 percent lower 2014–15 than in 2004–05. In contrast, revenues from state sources were 7 percent higher in 2014–15 than in 2004–05, and revenues from local sources were 10 percent higher. The federal revenue per student was $1,094 in 2014–15, amounting to 8.5 percent of public school revenues. In comparison, state sources accounted for 46.6 percent of revenue in 2014–15, and local sources accounted for 45.0 percent.
| Year | Federal | State | Local1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–80 | 9.8 | 46.8 | 43.4 |
| 1986–87 | 6.4 | 49.7 | 43.9 |
| 1989–90 | 6.1 | 47.1 | 46.8 |
| 1995–96 | 6.6 | 47.5 | 45.9 |
| 1996–97 | 6.6 | 48.0 | 45.4 |
| 1997–98 | 6.8 | 48.4 | 44.8 |
| 1998–99 | 7.1 | 48.7 | 44.2 |
| 1999–2000 | 7.3 | 49.5 | 43.2 |
| 2000–01 | 7.3 | 49.7 | 43.0 |
| 2001–02 | 7.9 | 49.2 | 42.9 |
| 2002–03 | 8.5 | 48.7 | 42.8 |
| 2003–04 | 9.1 | 47.1 | 43.9 |
| 2004–05 | 9.2 | 46.9 | 44.0 |
| 2005–06 | 9.1 | 46.5 | 44.4 |
| 2006–07 | 8.5 | 47.4 | 44.1 |
| 2007–08 | 8.2 | 48.3 | 43.5 |
| 2008–09 | 9.6 | 46.7 | 43.8 |
| 2009–10 | 12.7 | 43.4 | 43.9 |
| 2010–11 | 12.5 | 44.2 | 43.3 |
| 2011–12 | 10.2 | 45.0 | 44.8 |
| 2012–13 | 9.3 | 45.3 | 45.5 |
| 2013–14 | 8.7 | 46.3 | 45.0 |
| 2014–15 | 8.5 | 46.6 | 45.0 |