School spending rises nationally amid enrollment decline

(The Center Square) – Public school enrollment has declined in recent years even as staffing and spending have increased, prompting debate among education leaders over how resources are being used and whether they are improving student outcomes. Total annual public school spending is nearing $1 trillion nationally, according to a Reason Foundation report. According to Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, public school enrollment has declined by roughly 750,000 students since 2014. In that same time, public school employment has grown by more than 600,000 positions. Only about one-third of students score at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading, according to the National Assessment Governing Board. According to the National Education Association, the national average teacher salary reached $72,030 in 2024, up 26.9% from $58,454 in 2015-16. The highest average salaries are reported in California at $101,084, New York at $95,615, Ma