Spending per student in North Carolina
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North Carolina spent $12,492 per student at K-12 public schools during fiscal year 2023, preliminary U.S. Census Bureau data shows.
- That ranks North Carolina near the bottom nationwide in terms of per-student spending.
Why it matters: North Carolina public schools feel "suffocated" by a lack of funding amid the push for vouchers for private schools, as Axios' Alexandria Sands reported.
Zoom out: Only eight states with reported data spent less per student than North Carolina.
By the numbers: Vermont, at $26,345 per student, spent the most. Idaho, at $10,203, spent the least.
- Florida was the only state on the East Coast with reported data spending less per student than North Carolina: $11.862.
Between the lines: Teachers with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, who have an average starting pay of $48,637, also have struggled to afford living where they work. The district is exploring building teacher housing to help retain teachers.
- Teachers have the greatest influence on student performance, Sands reported.