Question of the Month - December 2004

How do SLC states rank with respect to per pupil expenditures?

Per pupil expenditures are often used as a barometer of state commitment to education.  Southern states have generally increased the amount they spend on public education per pupil over the past several years even in the face of difficult economic times.  Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana all exceeded the national average for percentage increase between the 2003 and 2004 school years.  In the region, only Missouri experienced a decline in per pupil expenditures between these years.

SLC Rank

National Rank

State

2003–04

% change from 2002–03

2002-03

1.

15.

WEST VIRGINIA

9,169

3.5

8,861

2.

14.

MARYLAND

9,186

5.5

8,711*

3.

19.

GEORGIA

8,703*

4.4

8,336

 

 

UNITED STATES AVG

8,208*

3.6

7,920

4.

29.

SOUTH CAROLINA

7,559

1.2

7,470

5.

30.

KENTUCKY

7,474

1.6

7,358

6.

34.

TEXAS

7,335

1.7

7,210

7.

39.

MISSOURI

6,947

–1.5

7,050

8.

36.

LOUISIANA

7,179

3.8

6,915

9.

37.

ALABAMA

7,163*

3.9

6,897

10.

41.

NORTH CAROLINA

6,727*

2.7

6,547*

11.

42.

FLORIDA

6,516

2.2

6,377

12.

43.

VIRGINIA

6,441*

2.0

6,316*

13.

46.

TENNESSEE

6,279*

1.1

6,213

14.

44.

OKLAHOMA

6,429*

4.9

6,130

15.

48.

MISSISSIPPI

6,137*

5.4

5,822*

16.

49.

ARKANSAS

6,005*

4.7

5,738*

Source:  National Education Association, Rankings and Estimates Update, Fall 2004.

* Computed from NEA Research, Estimates databank.  The figures are based on reports through August 2004

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