Education Week: Idaho ranks No. 49 in per-pupil spending

Idaho’s per-pupil spending ranks No. 49 in the nation, according to new, adjusted figures from Education Week.

As part of its Quality Counts 2018 rankings, Education Week calculated per-pupil spending in all states and the District of Columbia, and adjusted the numbers for regional differences in cost. Even so, Idaho came in ahead of only two Western states, Utah and Arizona.

A few raw numbers:

$8,422: Idaho’s per-pupil spending.

$7,207: Utah’s per-pupil spending, which ranks lowest in the nation.

$12,526: National average, per-pupil spending. This translates to $1.49 for every $1 Idaho spends per pupil.

$20,795: Vermont’s per-pupil spending, which ranks highest in the nation.

26: The number of states, including Idaho, which received a grade of F for school spending. (Idaho did grade better for funding equity, receiving a C-plus.)

48: Idaho’s overall ranking in Education Week’s Quality Counts 2018 report, released in January. Graded for school finance, K-12 achievement and “chance for success,” Idaho received an overall grade of D-plus.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]

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