California’s school spending soars—but test scores refuse to follow
Public school spending in the U.S. has climbed sharply over the past two decades. Nationwide, per-student costs rose from $14,969 in 2002 to $20,322 in 2023. Yet despite higher budgets, academic results in many states—particularly California—have failed to improve, raising concerns about how funds are being used.
California's spending on education has surged faster than most states. Since 2020, per-student expenditure jumped 31.5%, from $19,724 to $25,941. This places California among the top eight states for education funding per pupil.
U.S. school districts now spend close to $1 trillion annually, with California leading in per-student funding. Yet the lack of clear academic improvement, combined with falling enrolment, highlights a growing mismatch between investment and outcomes. Without targeted reforms, the trend of rising costs and declining performance may continue.
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