Chart assignment
Charts to read and discuss
Read each chart, then answer its questions. Every chart shows its source and date; open it for a table of the numbers and the data to download.
Chart 1 of 1 · Schools
Which big school districts spend the most per student?
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are on the chart's page.
In the school year that ended in 2024, New York City, New York spent $35,796 per student, the most of the nation's 100 largest public school districts, followed by District of Columbia ($31,529) and Atlanta, Georgia ($26,117). Alpine, Utah spent the least, $10,044, against $17,619 for all U.S. public schools. This is day-to-day spending on teachers, staff, supplies and buses, not on buildings or debt, and it isn't adjusted for local prices, which differ widely.
Questions to discuss
- In one sentence of your own, what does this chart show?
- Find the biggest change or difference in the chart. What might explain it?
- Who collected these numbers, and how recent are they? What else would you want to know before drawing a conclusion?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (Public domain (U.S. government work)) · Data as of Jun 30, 2024
Open the chart and its numbersTeachers: make your own chart assignment, or change this one. Free, no account needed.