NJ Education Spending Report Shows 9.5% Rise in Per-Student Cost for 2023-2024

Annual report reveals increased per-student costs, offering transparency on school spending practices across New Jersey districts

NEW JERSEY - The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has published its 2024 Taxpayers’ Guide to Education Spending, providing residents with a detailed look into school spending practices across the state. This annual report offers insights into both local and statewide expenditures, covering school districts serving preschool through grade 12, charter schools, and county-level vocational and special services districts.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the average Budgetary Cost Per Pupil—a standardized calculation for comparable expenses—stands at $20,154, marking a 9.5% increase over last year’s actual average cost of $18,401. This figure excludes non-comparable costs such as transportation, construction debt payments, and out-of-district tuition. The increase reflects a $1,753 rise in budgeted costs.

“This spending guide has annually provided the public with clear, insightful information on school spending in each district across New Jersey,” said Kevin Dehmer, Acting Commissioner of Education. “By providing transparent data on local school expenditures, the Taxpayers’ Guide to Education Spending serves as a crucial resource for discussions in each of our school communities about how to allocate funds to meet student needs.”

The guide groups districts by size and grade level and ranks them in 17 financial and staffing categories, including administrative costs, classroom instruction expenditures, and student-teacher ratios. Additionally, the report calculates “Total Spending Per Pupil,” encompassing all district costs, including transportation, out-of-district tuition, lunch programs, and pension payments. For the 2022-2023 school year, Total Spending Per Pupil reached $28,817—a 4.7% increase from the previous year’s total.

By making this data accessible, the NJDOE aims to provide New Jersey residents with tools to understand educational spending and to promote transparency within school district operations. The guide’s detailed financial breakdowns and rankings allow taxpayers to compare spending practices across districts and assess how educational resources are allocated.