What does per-pupil spending include?

Per-pupil spending (operating expenditure per pupil) includes teacher and staff salaries, benefits, instructional materials, building maintenance, transportation, and administrative costs. It does not include capital construction or debt service payments.

Why do some districts spend more per pupil than others?

Spending differences reflect local property tax wealth, student population needs (special education and English learner services cost more), labor market conditions (suburban districts often pay higher salaries), building age and maintenance needs, and transportation costs for geographically larger districts.

What are the main revenue sources for school districts?

School districts receive funding from three main sources: local property taxes, state aid, and federal grants like Title I and IDEA. The exact mix varies significantly by district wealth and student demographics.

Houston, TX School Spending Per Pupil — Revenue & Expenditures

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School Spending — 2023i

NCES

How your school districts spend money and where revenue comes from. Most funding comes from local property taxes (42.4%).

Houston ISDCity, Large · 184,109 students · $2.5B total budget

This district spends $14K per student to operate.

Operating i

$14K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

55.3% Local

8.1% State

15.1% Federal

Aldine ISDSuburb, Large · 57,844 students · $838.8M total budget

This district spends $15K per student to operate.

Operating i

$15K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

24% Local

41.8% State

15.9% Federal

Alief ISDCity, Large · 39,474 students · $560.8M total budget

This district spends $15K per student to operate.

Operating i

$15K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

26% Local

47.8% State

15.8% Federal

Kipp Texas Public SchoolsCity, Large · 34,111 students · $460.7M total budget

This district spends $14K per student to operate.

Operating i

$14K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

76.9% State

16% Federal

Spring ISDSuburb, Large · 33,935 students · $408.5M total budget

This district spends $12K per student to operate.

Operating i

$12K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

24.5% Local

39.5% State

13.6% Federal

Spring Branch ISDCity, Large · 33,407 students · $416.2M total budget

This district spends $13K per student to operate.

Operating i

$13K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

53.3% Local

8.2% State

9.1% Federal

Galena Park ISDSuburb, Large · 21,105 students · $285.2M total budget

This district spends $14K per student to operate.

Operating i

$14K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

29.7% Local

39.4% State

12.8% Federal

Yes Prep Public Schools IncCity, Large · 17,622 students · $277.6M total budget

This district spends $14K per student to operate.

Operating i

$14K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

76.9% State

14.2% Federal

Sheldon ISDSuburb, Large · 11,028 students · $154.0M total budget

This district spends $14K per student to operate.

Operating i

$14K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

29.8% Local

34.8% State

9.9% Federal

Harmony Public Schools - Houston NorthCity, Large · 7,107 students · $94.3M total budget

This district spends $12K per student to operate.

Operating i

$12K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

84.7% State

11% Federal

Houston Gateway Academy IncCity, Large · 2,157 students · $21.4M total budget

This district spends $10K per student to operate.

Operating i

$10K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

82.8% State

14.2% Federal

Raul Yzaguirre Schools for SuccessCity, Large · 1,888 students · $34.8M total budget

This district spends $17K per student to operate.

Operating i

$17K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

72.5% State

17.7% Federal

Bakerripley Community SchoolsCity, Large · 1,824 students · $19.7M total budget

This district spends $11K per student to operate.

Operating i

$11K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

84% State

15.6% Federal

Southwest Public SchoolsCity, Large · 1,625 students · $28.9M total budget

This district spends $15K per student to operate.

Operating i

$15K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

86.5% State

11.3% Federal

Beta AcademyCity, Large · 1,486 students · $18.4M total budget

This district spends $12K per student to operate.

Operating i

$12K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

76.2% State

7.7% Federal

Ser-Ninos Charter SchoolCity, Large · 1,154 students · $16.4M total budget

This district spends $14K per student to operate.

Operating i

$14K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

82.2% State

14.2% Federal

The Varnett Public SchoolCity, Large · 1,142 students · $19.8M total budget

This district spends $17K per student to operate.

Operating i

$17K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

79.2% State

15.4% Federal

George I Sanchez CharterCity, Large · 1,125 students · $15.0M total budget

This district spends $13K per student to operate.

Operating i

$13K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

84.4% State

14.9% Federal

Academy of Accelerated Learning IncCity, Large · 830 students · $13.1M total budget

This district spends $18K per student to operate.

Operating i

$18K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

79% State

18% Federal

Etoile Academy Charter SchoolCity, Large · 806 students · $14.3M total budget

This district spends $15K per student to operate.

Operating i

$15K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

83.5% State

15.4% Federal

Amigos Por Vida-Friends for Life Pub Chtr SCHCity, Large · 694 students · $9.9M total budget

This district spends $13K per student to operate.

Operating i

$13K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

75.5% State

13.9% Federal

Draw AcademyCity, Large · 677 students · $13.1M total budget

This district spends $19K per student to operate.

Operating i

$19K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

80.8% State

16.8% Federal

Step Charter SchoolCity, Large · 598 students · $10.5M total budget

This district spends $15K per student to operate.

Operating i

$15K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

78.2% State

14.8% Federal

The Rhodes School for Performing ArtsSuburb, Large · 575 students · $11.3M total budget

This district spends $26K per student to operate.

Operating i

$26K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

50.4% State

46.3% Federal

Beatrice Mayes Institute Charter SchoolCity, Large · 458 students · $9.1M total budget

This district spends $16K per student to operate.

Operating i

$16K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

66.5% State

11.2% Federal

Two Dimensions Preparatory AcademySuburb, Large · 435 students · $4.9M total budget

This district spends $12K per student to operate.

Operating i

$12K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

79% State

14.3% Federal

Bloom Academy Charter SchoolCity, Large · 400 students · $5.4M total budget

This district spends $18K per student to operate.

Operating i

$18K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

78.5% State

18.2% Federal

The Pro-Vision AcademyCity, Large · 395 students · $5.5M total budget

This district spends $16K per student to operate.

Operating i

$16K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

78.6% State

17.5% Federal

Alief Montessori Community SchoolCity, Large · 384 students · $4.0M total budget

This district spends $11K per student to operate.

Operating i

$11K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

79.1% State

12.1% Federal

Meyerpark CharterCity, Large · 293 students · $4.2M total budget

This district spends $14K per student to operate.

Operating i

$14K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

84.3% State

14.3% Federal

Houston Classical Charter SchoolSuburb, Large · 285 students · $7.0M total budget

This district spends $21K per student to operate.

Operating i

$21K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

33.5% State

15.1% Federal

Yellowstone College PreparatoryCity, Large · 272 students · $4.8M total budget

This district spends $15K per student to operate.

Operating i

$15K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

77.2% State

14.6% Federal

Excel AcademyCity, Large · 234 students · $5.4M total budget

This district spends $18K per student to operate.

Operating i

$18K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

78.8% State

17% Federal

Reve Preparatory Charter SchoolCity, Large · 218 students

Operating i

—/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

The Lawson AcademyCity, Large · 195 students · $2.8M total budget

This district spends $12K per student to operate.

Operating i

$12K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

71% State

18.2% Federal

Accelerated Intermediate AcademyCity, Large · 192 students · $3.2M total budget

This district spends $18K per student to operate.

Operating i

$18K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

86.7% State

13.3% Federal

Houston Heights High SchoolCity, Large · 179 students · $2.5M total budget

This district spends $13K per student to operate.

Operating i

$13K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

92.3% State

6.6% Federal

Elevate Collegiate Charter SchoolCity, Large · 174 students · $3.2M total budget

This district spends $17K per student to operate.

Operating i

$17K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

88.3% State

9.3% Federal

A+ Unlimited PotentialCity, Large · 150 students · $3.6M total budget

This district spends $18K per student to operate.

Operating i

$18K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

63.8% State

12.2% Federal

Up Excellence AcademyCity, Large · $1.7M total budget

This district spends $47K per student to operate.

Operating i

$47K/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

41.1% State

47.6% Federal

Nextgen Innovation AcademyCity, Large

Operating i

—/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

Reg 4 Education Service CenterCity, Large

Operating i

—/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

Texas Serenity AcademySuburb, Large

Operating i

—/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

Harris County Dept of EdSuburb, Large

Operating i

—/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

Heritage Classical AcademyCity, Large

Operating i

—/student

Instruction i

—/student

Revenue i

—/student

Houston, TX School Spending Per Pupil — Revenue & Expenditures