Utah's public school funding 2nd-lowest in nation
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Utah spent the nation's second-lowest amount per K-12 student at public schools in 2023, per preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The big picture: Utah and Idaho spent hundreds of dollars per student less than the rest of the nation, at $10,333 and $10,203 respectively.
- Other states' average spending ranged from $11,142 (Oklahoma) to $26,345 (Vermont).
Catch up quick: Utah and Idaho typically vie for last place in school funding, with Census data showing Utah in the bottom spot for 2022.
The latest: Schools here are poised for a $5 million funding boost next year courtesy of Utah's Trust Lands — formerly-federal land that was granted to the state 120 years ago to generate revenue that's invested to fund public services.
- That funding is expected to increase even more in 2026 under Amendment B, which nearly 71% of Utah voters approved in November. The state constitutional amendment raises the cap on funds available for schools from the investments — i.e., the funding doesn't come directly from taxpayers.
The fine print: Not all states fund public schools in the same way. These figures are calculated by creating an aggregate amount for each state, including direct state government allocations, local government and district funds.