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Evan BrooksData Editor
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How do county spending and graduation rates compare? Using county-level NCES finance and graduation data, we compared the highest-spending and lowest-spending counties to see how their reported graduation rates differ. The result is descriptive, not causal.
The 15 highest-spending counties average $20,555 per pupil and graduate 77.4% of their students. The 15 lowest-spending counties average $4,140 per pupil and graduate 87.4% of their students. The spending gap is enormous. The outcome gap is real but smaller than the spending gap might suggest.
The Highest-Spending Counties and Their Outcomes
Average per-pupil spending: $20,555. Average graduation rate: 77.4%.
Rank
1
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $26,327
- Graduation Rate
- 85.2%
- School Score
- 62.8
Rank
2
County
- State
- California
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $23,219
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- School Score
- 100
Rank
3
County
- State
- Alaska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,316
- Graduation Rate
- 70.9%
- School Score
- 50.9
Rank
4
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $21,940
- Graduation Rate
- 78.5%
- School Score
- 54.3
Rank
5
County
- State
- Massachusetts
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $21,423
- Graduation Rate
- 92.0%
- School Score
- 83.7
Rank
6
County
- State
- Alaska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,268
- Graduation Rate
- 90.0%
- School Score
- 75.6
Rank
7
County
- State
- Alaska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,058
- Graduation Rate
- 78.7%
- School Score
- 54.4
Rank
8
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,993
- Graduation Rate
- 93.4%
- School Score
- 89.3
Rank
9
County
- State
- Nebraska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,491
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- School Score
- 52.3
Rank
10
- State
- Alaska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,133
- Graduation Rate
- 90.0%
- School Score
- 75.5
Rank
11
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,908
- Graduation Rate
- 91.6%
- School Score
- 81
Rank
12
County
- State
- Nebraska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,861
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- School Score
- 52.2
Rank
13
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,848
- Graduation Rate
- 86.1%
- School Score
- 64.3
Rank
14
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,781
- Graduation Rate
- 79.3%
- School Score
- 54.7
Rank
15
- State
- Alaska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,754
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- School Score
- 52.2
| Rank | County | State | Per-Pupil Spending | Graduation Rate | School Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton County | New York | $26,327 | 85.2% | 62.8 |
| 2 | Alpine County | California | $23,219 | N/A | 100 |
| 3 | Bristol Bay Borough | Alaska | $22,316 | 70.9% | 50.9 |
| 4 | New York County | New York | $21,940 | 78.5% | 54.3 |
| 5 | Dukes County | Massachusetts | $21,423 | 92.0% | 83.7 |
| 6 | Aleutians East Borough | Alaska | $20,268 | 90.0% | 75.6 |
| 7 | Nome Census Area | Alaska | $20,058 | 78.7% | 54.4 |
| 8 | Putnam County | New York | $19,993 | 93.4% | 89.3 |
| 9 | Wheeler County | Nebraska | $19,491 | 75.0% | 52.3 |
| 10 | Wrangell City and Borough | Alaska | $19,133 | 90.0% | 75.5 |
| 11 | Nassau County | New York | $18,908 | 91.6% | 81 |
| 12 | Sioux County | Nebraska | $18,861 | 75.0% | 52.2 |
| 13 | Rockland County | New York | $18,848 | 86.1% | 64.3 |
| 14 | Sullivan County | New York | $18,781 | 79.3% | 54.7 |
| 15 | Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | Alaska | $18,754 | 75.0% | 52.2 |
The Lowest-Spending Counties and Their Outcomes
Average per-pupil spending: $4,140. Average graduation rate: 87.4%.
Rank
1
County
- State
- Alabama
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $3,173
- Graduation Rate
- 85.3%
- School Score
- 12.9
Rank
2
County
- State
- Oregon
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $3,289
- Graduation Rate
- 83.6%
- School Score
- 9.7
Rank
3
- State
- Alaska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $3,314
- Graduation Rate
- 66.3%
- School Score
- 0.5
Rank
4
County
- State
- Oregon
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $3,412
- Graduation Rate
- 88.1%
- School Score
- 20.2
Rank
5
County
- State
- Idaho
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,034
- Graduation Rate
- 92.0%
- School Score
- 33.8
Rank
6
County
- State
- Florida
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,060
- Graduation Rate
- 90.0%
- School Score
- 25.8
Rank
7
County
- State
- Arizona
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,266
- Graduation Rate
- 88.7%
- School Score
- 21.6
Rank
8
County
- State
- Utah
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,312
- Graduation Rate
- 96.2%
- School Score
- 47
Rank
9
County
- State
- Indiana
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,410
- Graduation Rate
- 77.2%
- School Score
- 4
Rank
10
County
- State
- Idaho
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,493
- Graduation Rate
- 91.9%
- School Score
- 32
Rank
11
County
- State
- Kentucky
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,566
- Graduation Rate
- 92.0%
- School Score
- 33.9
Rank
12
County
- State
- Indiana
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,568
- Graduation Rate
- 92.0%
- School Score
- 33.9
Rank
13
County
- State
- Nevada
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,661
- Graduation Rate
- 84.0%
- School Score
- 10.6
Rank
14
County
- State
- Indiana
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,752
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- School Score
- 48.8
Rank
15
County
- State
- Idaho
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $4,790
- Graduation Rate
- 86.8%
- School Score
- 15.9
| Rank | County | State | Per-Pupil Spending | Graduation Rate | School Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barbour County | Alabama | $3,173 | 85.3% | 12.9 |
| 2 | Baker County | Oregon | $3,289 | 83.6% | 9.7 |
| 3 | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | Alaska | $3,314 | 66.3% | 0.5 |
| 4 | Harney County | Oregon | $3,412 | 88.1% | 20.2 |
| 5 | Oneida County | Idaho | $4,034 | 92.0% | 33.8 |
| 6 | Hendry County | Florida | $4,060 | 90.0% | 25.8 |
| 7 | Yuma County | Arizona | $4,266 | 88.7% | 21.6 |
| 8 | Juab County | Utah | $4,312 | 96.2% | 47 |
| 9 | Randolph County | Indiana | $4,410 | 77.2% | 4 |
| 10 | Madison County | Idaho | $4,493 | 91.9% | 32 |
| 11 | Nicholas County | Kentucky | $4,566 | 92.0% | 33.9 |
| 12 | Switzerland County | Indiana | $4,568 | 92.0% | 33.9 |
| 13 | Carson City | Nevada | $4,661 | 84.0% | 10.6 |
| 14 | Miami County | Indiana | $4,752 | 97.0% | 48.8 |
| 15 | Franklin County | Idaho | $4,790 | 86.8% | 15.9 |
What the Data Really Shows
The relationship between spending and graduation rates is positive but not linear. Among the highest-spending counties, almost all reported graduation rates exceed 90%. Among the lowest-spending counties, completion metrics vary widely. Some report graduation rates below 70%, while others report rates above 85% despite spending under $9,000 per pupil.
This variation shows why spending should be read with other local records. County-level finance data does not capture curriculum, staffing stability, attendance, local accountability systems, or school climate. Counties that appear stronger than their spending level may warrant a closer look at state and district data before drawing conclusions.
Methodology
Per-pupil expenditure data comes from NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33). Graduation rates come from NCES Common Core of Data (four-year ACGR). The comparison uses the 15 highest-spending and 15 lowest-spending counties with complete data for both metrics. School Scores are from SchoolsByCounty percentile-rank methodology.
Sources and Review
Data vintage: NCES 2022-23 public school and school-finance releases. Data sources are selected for this article's metric focus. County figures are informational estimates and may differ from other published analyses due to methodology, aggregation, suppression, or reporting-year differences. Last editorial review checked source links, data vintage, visible caveats, and county-profile links.
Continue the Research
Use this article as a starting point, then verify county-level signals against official district and state records.