North Carolina education spending per-student ranks near the bottom of the nation, according to new U.S. Census figures released this week.
The data, which do not factor in North Carolina’s growing spending on charters, placed the state at 45th in the nation, not counting Washington, D.C.
Total spending per student, about $8,792, lags the U.S. average of $11,762, according to the Census charts.
The funding levels were for the 2016 fiscal year. Census officials noted they did not include charter holders who were not governmental entities.
North Carolina charters are approved by the State Board of Education but run by private, non-profits. Of course, charter spending is of import in this discussion. Since North Carolina lawmakers lifted the 100-charter cap in 2011, the charter sector has risen to include 173 schools.
A report this year from the National Education Association tallied up the state’s per-pupil spending, including charter funding, to $9,528 per student. According to the NEA, that ranks 39th in the nation, trailing the national average by more than $2,300.
The new Census data arrive about a week after 20,000 to 30,000 teachers and education advocates swarmed Raleigh to rally before the N.C. General Assembly. Among their grievances, teachers complained of insufficient school spending, poor pay, cuts to their retirement benefits, over-testing, and hostility from state leaders.
See below for the state rankings:
50. Utah
Per-pupil spending: $6,953
49. Idaho
Per-pupil spending: $7,157
48. Arizona
Per-pupil spending: $7,613
47. Oklahoma
Per-pupil spending: $8,097
46. Mississippi
Per-pupil spending: $8,702
45. North Carolina
Per-pupil spending: $8,792
44. Tennessee
Per-pupil spending: $8,810
43. Florida
Per-pupil spending: $8,920
42. Nevada
Per-pupil spending: $8,960
Per-pupil spending: $9,016
40. South Dakota
Per-pupil spending: $9,176
Per-pupil spending: $9,236
38. Colorado
Per-pupil spending: $9,575
Per-pupil spending: $9,693
36. Georgia
Per-pupil spending: $9,769
Per-pupil spending: $9,846
34. Indiana
Per-pupil spending: $9,856
Per-pupil spending: $9,863
32. Kansas
Per-pupil spending: $9,960
Per-pupil spending: $10,249
30. Missouri
Per-pupil spending: $10,313
Per-pupil spending: $10,842
28. Louisiana
Per-pupil spending: $11,038
Per-pupil spending: $11,150
26. West Virginia
Per-pupil spending: $11,291
25. Montana
Per-pupil spending: $11,348
24. Virginia
Per-pupil spending: $11,432
23. Wisconsin
Per-pupil spending: $11,456
22. California
Per-pupil spending: $11,495
Per-pupil spending: $11,534
20. Michigan
Per-pupil spending: $11,668
Per-pupil spending: $12,102
18. Nebraska
Per-pupil spending: $12,299
17. Minnesota
Per-pupil spending: $12,382
16. Maine
Per-pupil spending: $13,278
Per-pupil spending: $13,373
14. Hawaii
Per-pupil spending: $13,748
13. Illinois
Per-pupil spending: $14,180
12. Maryland
Per-pupil spending: $14,206
11. Delaware
Per-pupil spending: $14,713
10. New Hampshire
Per-pupil spending: $15,340
9. Pennsylvania
Per-pupil spending: $15,418
8. Rhode Island
Per-pupil spending: $15,532
7. Massachusetts
Per-pupil spending: $15,593
6. Wyoming
Per-pupil spending: $16,442
5. Alaska
Per-pupil spending: $17,510
4. Vermont
Per-pupil spending: $17,873
3. New Jersey
Per-pupil spending: $18,402
2. Connecticut
Per-pupil spending: $18,958
1. New York
Per-pupil spending: $22,366