Data Editor
Evan BrooksData Editor
- Published:
- Last reviewed:
Money is not everything in education, but school-finance levels still shape what districts can operate. Counties with the highest per-student spending may have more room for staffing, transportation, support services, and program breadth. Understanding where spending is highest helps explain the resource side of county-level school comparisons.
We sorted all US counties by per-pupil expenditure using NCES data. The national average is $13,239. The top 25 counties average $19,547, more than double the national figure.
The 25 Counties with the Highest Per-Pupil Spending
Ranked by per-pupil expenditure from highest to lowest.
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
16
County
- State
- Nebraska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,703
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- School Score
- 99.5
Rank
17
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,662
- Graduation Rate
- 86.5%
- School Score
- 65
Rank
18
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,638
- Graduation Rate
- 91.4%
- School Score
- 80.5
Rank
19
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,577
- Graduation Rate
- 89.5%
- School Score
- 73.4
Rank
20
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,493
- Graduation Rate
- 89.4%
- School Score
- 73.2
Rank
21
County
- State
- Nebraska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,492
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- School Score
- 52.1
Rank
22
County
- State
- Michigan
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,000
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- School Score
- 99.3
Rank
23
County
- State
- Alaska
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,035
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- School Score
- 52
Rank
24
County
- State
- New York
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,979
- Graduation Rate
- 87.0%
- School Score
- 66.6
Rank
25
County
- State
- North Dakota
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,783
- Graduation Rate
- 75.0%
- School Score
- 52
| 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 |
| 16 | Loup County | Nebraska | $18,703 | N/A | 99.5 |
| 17 | Ulster County | New York | $18,662 | 86.5% | 65 |
| 18 | Essex County | New York | $18,638 | 91.4% | 80.5 |
| 19 | Westchester County | New York | $18,577 | 89.5% | 73.4 |
| 20 | Suffolk County | New York | $18,493 | 89.4% | 73.2 |
| 21 | McPherson County | Nebraska | $18,492 | 75.0% | 52.1 |
| 22 | Keweenaw County | Michigan | $18,000 | N/A | 99.3 |
| 23 | Skagway Municipality | Alaska | $17,035 | 75.0% | 52 |
| 24 | Columbia County | New York | $16,979 | 87.0% | 66.6 |
| 25 | Steele County | North Dakota | $16,783 | 75.0% | 52 |
Ranking Data Profile
Within this highest per-pupil spending list, values run from $16,783 to $26,327, with a median of $18,848. This range matters because counties near the middle of the table can be closer to each other than the rank numbers suggest.
New York contributes 11 of the 25 counties in this table. State clustering can point to funding formulas, reporting practices, district geography, or regional enrollment patterns that deserve local review.
3 ranked counties lack a reported graduation-rate value in this table, and 0 lack a reported per-pupil spending value. Missing companion fields are shown as not reported rather than estimated.
Regional Pattern in This Ranking
The most represented states are New York (11), Alaska (6), and Nebraska (4), together accounting for 21 of 25 counties in the table. County school metrics are shaped by state finance rules, state graduation reporting, district boundaries, enrollment scale, and regional labor markets.
For a highest per-pupil spending list, state clustering is a research cue rather than an explanation. Compare counties inside the same state first, then use national comparisons once the state baseline is clear.
Notable Counties in the Table
The ranking rows are linked to county profiles so each record can be checked against school lists, district context, and local source notes. These rows show the range inside the table:
- Hamilton County, NY ranks #1 with $26,327 per-pupil spending; related signals show 85.2% graduation rate and School Score 62.8.
- Alpine County, CA ranks #2 with $23,219 per-pupil spending; related signals show not reported graduation rate and School Score 100.
- Bristol Bay Borough, AK ranks #3 with $22,316 per-pupil spending; related signals show 70.9% graduation rate and School Score 50.9.
- New York County, NY ranks #4 with $21,940 per-pupil spending; related signals show 78.5% graduation rate and School Score 54.3.
- Dukes County, MA ranks #5 with $21,423 per-pupil spending; related signals show 92.0% graduation rate and School Score 83.7.
How to Use This Ranking
Rankings are useful when they help you decide where to look next. They are weaker when treated as a final verdict on a county or school system.
- Treat the highest per-pupil spending rank as a finance signal, not a complete measure of classroom quality.
- Compare spending against the state average and local cost context. Labor costs, transportation, enrollment scale, and special programs can all move the number.
- Read spending beside graduation rate and School Score. Similar finance levels can appear alongside very different completion outcomes.
Data Caveats for Per-Pupil Spending Rankings
A highest spending rank reflects current operating expenditure per fall enrollment. It excludes capital outlays and debt service, and it is not adjusted for regional cost of living.
Very high spending can reflect remote transportation or high labor costs, while very low spending can reflect state formulas, enrollment scale, or local revenue limits. The rank identifies a budget signal, not the cause.
Geographic Concentration of High Spending
The highest-spending counties are heavily concentrated in the Northeast, particularly New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. This reflects a combination of high costs of living, labor-market costs, and state or local funding commitments.
A few Western counties also appear, notably in Alaska and Wyoming, where sparse populations and transportation costs can drive up per-pupil spending. These high costs do not always translate to higher completion metrics, but they are visible in the county finance data.
Methodology
Per-pupil expenditure data comes from the NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), aggregated to the county level. Figures reflect current spending per fall enrollment, excluding capital outlays and debt service. The national average of $13,239 is derived from the most recent NCES release.
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.