Five-second answer

Claim we investigated

California's school spending per pupil grew about twice as fast as comparable states', yet lower-spending states outperform it once student demographics are considered

Mostly true. Per-pupil spending rose 126% versus 51-61% in peers; Florida, Texas and Mississippi outrank California after demographic adjustment. Census data show California's current spending per pupil rose 126% from FY2013 to FY2024, against 51% to 65% in Texas, Florida, New York, Mississippi and the U.S. average. On the Urban Institute's demographically adjusted NAEP rankings, lower-spending Florida, Texas and Mississippi rank near the top while California ranks about 19th. California's scores fell less than its peers' since 2013, and its spending ranks only about 31st after adjusting for labor costs.

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FactHub rates the claim “California's school spending per pupil grew about twice as fast as comparable states', yet lower-spending states outperform it once student demographics are considered” Mostly true (moderate confidence): Per-pupil spending rose 126% versus 51-61% in peers; Florida, Texas and Mississippi outrank California after demographic adjustment. Reviewed October 30, 2026. https://facthub.org/n/article/ca-school-spending-vs-peers/1

One-minute summary

What the evidence establishes

  • Established. California's current spending per pupil rose 126% from FY2013 to FY2024; peers rose 51-65%.
  • Established. Adjusted for student demographics, Florida and Mississippi averaged rank 3.5 and Texas 4.8 on 2022 NAEP tests; California averaged 19.
  • Established. The State Auditor found the state could not measure whether extra funding for high-need students improved their outcomes.
  • Context. California's NAEP scores fell less than its peers' from 2013 to 2024, and its adjusted rank improved from about 33rd in 2019.
  • Context. After adjusting for labor costs, California ranks about 31st in per-pupil spending.
  • Not shown. Why lower-spending states outperform California, or what California's results would be with less money.
Important context: This check compares California with Texas, Florida, New York and the U.S. average, plus Mississippi as a case study. Spending is current spending per pupil from the Census Bureau's school finance survey, in nominal dollars. Results are scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the same test in every state, including the Urban Institute's rankings that adjust for differences in students' poverty, race, English-learner and special-education status. The check rates spending growth against relative performance, not why performance differs.

The evidence

The conclusion rests on the combined record. Expand each item to see its role and limitations.

Independence note: This check uses 4 methods across 5 institutions and 1 country or international grouping.
Evidence map
Method Institution / country Year(s) What it shows Key limitation Primary links
Census Annual Survey of School System Finances U.S. Census Bureau United States 2013, 2024 Census figures show California's current spending per pupil rose from $9,220 to $20,791 between FY2013 and FY2024, a 126% increase, against 51% to 65% for Texas, Florida, New York, Mississippi and the U.S. Nominal dollars; California, Texas and Florida figures come from reproductions of Census tables. FactHub U.S. Census Bureau
Urban Institute demographic adjustment of NAEP scores Urban Institute, Louisiana Department of Education United States 2019, 2022 On the Urban Institute's 2022 demographically adjusted NAEP rankings, Florida and Mississippi averaged rank 3.5, Texas 4.8, New York 18.5 and California 19.0. Louisiana's education department reported Florida, Texas and Mississippi in the top five. Adjustment depends on the variables used; 2024 adjusted ranks were not extracted. FactHub Louisiana Department of Education
NAEP state snapshot reports National Center for Education Statistics United States 2013, 2024 Summed across four NAEP tests, California's scores fell 17 points from 2013 to 2024, against 32 for the U.S., 35 in Florida and New York and 37 in Texas; Mississippi rose 16. A crude sum; not all changes are statistically significant. FactHub
State Auditor review of the Local Control Funding Formula California State Auditor United States 2019 The State Auditor found in 2019 that policymakers lacked adequate information to assess whether supplemental and concentration funds improved outcomes for the high-need students they were meant to help. A 2019 audit; some recommendations were later partly adopted. California State Auditor
1. California's per-pupil spending grew about twice as fast Census Annual Survey of School System Finances

Census figures show California's current spending per pupil rose from $9,220 to $20,791 between FY2013 and FY2024, a 126% increase, against 51% to 65% for Texas, Florida, New York, Mississippi and the U.S.

Limit: Nominal dollars; California, Texas and Florida figures come from reproductions of Census tables.

Verify: California vs. Texas, Florida, New York and the U.S.: spending and results, 2012-2025 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances (May 7, 2026)

California's school spending per pupil grew about twice as fast as peers'Nominal growth in current spending per pupil, FY2013 to FY2024.{"width":960,"height":540,"plot":{"left":90,"top":70,"right":926,"bottom":482},"yDomain":[0,140],"series":[{"name":"Value","color":"#176b87"}],"points":[{"series":0,"x":159.67,"y":112.67,"xLabel":"California","yLabel":"125.5"},{"series":0,"x":299,"y":291.6,"xLabel":"U.S.","yLabel":"64.7"},{"series":0,"x":438.33,"y":302.19,"xLabel":"New York","yLabel":"61.1"},{"series":0,"x":577.67,"y":318.97,"xLabel":"Texas","yLabel":"55.4"},{"series":0,"x":717,"y":330.15,"xLabel":"Mississippi","yLabel":"51.6"},{"series":0,"x":856.33,"y":333.39,"xLabel":"Florida","yLabel":"50.5"}]}California's school spending per pupil grew about twice as fast as peers'0.020.040.060.080.0100.0120.0140.0CaliforniaU.S.New YorkTexasMississippiFloridastateFactHub · Growth, FY2013-FY2024 (%)
Nominal growth in current spending per pupil, FY2013 to FY2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, FactHub calculation. View source chart
2. Lower-spending states outrank California after demographic adjustment Urban Institute demographic adjustment of NAEP scores

On the Urban Institute's 2022 demographically adjusted NAEP rankings, Florida and Mississippi averaged rank 3.5, Texas 4.8, New York 18.5 and California 19.0. Louisiana's education department reported Florida, Texas and Mississippi in the top five.

Limit: Adjustment depends on the variables used; 2024 adjusted ranks were not extracted.

Verify: California vs. Texas, Florida, New York and the U.S.: spending and results, 2012-2025 Louisiana education ranks fourth nationally on new study (Dec. 9, 2024)

Mississippi's 4th-grade reading rose above the nation's; California's was flatNAEP grade 4 reading average scale scores, 2013 and 2024.{"width":960,"height":540,"plot":{"left":90,"top":70,"right":926,"bottom":482},"yDomain":[208,222],"series":[{"name":"Mississippi","color":"#176b87"},{"name":"California","color":"#b6542c"},{"name":"U.S. public","color":"#684b9b"}],"points":[{"series":0,"x":90,"y":452.57,"xLabel":"2013","yLabel":"209"},{"series":1,"x":90,"y":334.86,"xLabel":"2013","yLabel":"213"},{"series":2,"x":90,"y":99.43,"xLabel":"2013","yLabel":"221"},{"series":0,"x":926,"y":158.29,"xLabel":"2024","yLabel":"219"},{"series":1,"x":926,"y":364.29,"xLabel":"2024","yLabel":"212"},{"series":2,"x":926,"y":305.43,"xLabel":"2024","yLabel":"214"}]}Mississippi's 4th-grade reading rose above the nation's; California's was flat20821021221421621822022220132024YearMississippiCaliforniaU.S. publicMississippiCaliforniaU.S. publicFactHub · Grade 4 reading score
Grade 4 reading: Mississippi rose above the national average while California's score was flat. Source: NCES. View source chart
3. California's scores fell less than its peers' NAEP state snapshot reports

Summed across four NAEP tests, California's scores fell 17 points from 2013 to 2024, against 32 for the U.S., 35 in Florida and New York and 37 in Texas; Mississippi rose 16.

Limit: A crude sum; not all changes are statistically significant.

Verify: California vs. Texas, Florida, New York and the U.S.: spending and results, 2012-2025

4. The state could not measure whether targeted funding worked State Auditor review of the Local Control Funding Formula

The State Auditor found in 2019 that policymakers lacked adequate information to assess whether supplemental and concentration funds improved outcomes for the high-need students they were meant to help.

Limit: A 2019 audit; some recommendations were later partly adopted.

Verify: K-12 Local Control Funding: The State's Approach Has Not Ensured That Significant Funding Is Benefiting Students as Intended to Close Achievement Gaps (Report 2019-101, Nov. 2019)

Common questions

“California's test scores held up better than other states'.”

Short answer: True

California's NAEP scores fell about half as much as its peers' from 2013 to 2024, and its adjusted rank improved. That is real progress. It still trails lower-spending states once demographics are considered.

Related claim: Mississippi's reading scores rose above the nation's while spending among the least — Mississippi's reading scores rose above the nation's after its 2013 literacy law, while it spent among the least per pupil.

“California's spending only looks high because teachers and buildings cost more there.”

Short answer: Partly

The Public Policy Institute of California finds California drops to about 31st in per-pupil spending once labor costs are accounted for. That narrows the spending gap in real terms but does not explain why spending grew about twice as fast as peers'.

“Test scores miss other gains, like graduation rates.”

Short answer: Some

California's four-year graduation rate reached 87.9%, a decade high, while enrollment fell about 8%, which raises per-pupil spending on its own.

Conclusion

The spending comparison is stark. California's current spending per pupil rose from $9,220 in FY2013 to $20,791 in FY2024, a 126% increase, against 55% in Texas, 51% in Florida, 61% in New York, 52% in Mississippi and 65% nationally. Part of that reflects California's low starting point after recession-era cuts and falling enrollment, which raises per-pupil figures. The performance comparison mostly supports the claim. Once student demographics are taken into account, the Urban Institute's 2022 rankings put Florida and Mississippi at an average rank of about 3.5 and Texas about 4.8, while California averaged about 19th. Those three states spent roughly $12,300 to $12,900 per pupil in FY2024, about 40% less than California. The State Auditor found in 2019 that the state could not tell whether billions in extra funding for high-need students improved their outcomes. The rating is Mostly true rather than True because the trend cuts the other way. California's NAEP scores fell a combined 17 points across four tests from 2013 to 2024, about half the decline in Texas, Florida, New York or the nation, and its adjusted rank improved from about 33rd in 2019. Its graduation rate reached a decade high. And after adjusting for labor costs, its spending ranks only about 31st nationally, so its higher dollars buy less than they appear. The fair summary is that California spends far more per student than these peers and still trails the lower-spending leaders, while closing some of the gap.

How we checked

  1. Fixed a peer group in advance (Texas, Florida, New York, the U.S. average) and included Mississippi as a labeled case study.
  2. Compared Census per-pupil current spending for FY2013 and FY2024.
  3. Compared NAEP scores for 2013 and 2024 and the Urban Institute's demographically adjusted rankings.
  4. Reviewed the State Auditor's 2019 audit of the Local Control Funding Formula and California Department of Education releases.
  5. Recorded figures and calculations in a FactHub dataset.

Editorial note: Scope: per-pupil current spending FY2013-FY2024 and NAEP results 2013-2024 for California, Texas, Florida, New York, Mississippi and the U.S. Spending is nominal. California, Texas and Florida spending figures come from reproductions of Census tables. No external specialist review has been recorded.

Expert-review status

No external specialist review has been recorded.

Funding and conflicts

Funding: No external funding for this piece.

Ownership: FactHub is an independent fact-checking project.

Conflicts: No known conflicts of interest.

Sources

Sources are labeled by kind, with what this fact check takes from each, so readers can check the evidence independently.

  1. FactHub record FactHub. California vs. Texas, Florida, New York and the U.S.: spending and results, 2012-2025

    FactHub's peer-comparison dataset, including per-pupil spending, NAEP changes and adjusted ranks.

    • Per-pupil current spending rose 126% in California from FY2013 to FY2024, against 65% for the U.S., 61% in New York, 55% in Texas, 52% in Mississippi and 51% in Florida.

    • On 2022 demographically adjusted NAEP rankings, Florida and Mississippi averaged rank 3.5, Texas 4.8, New York 18.5 and California 19.0; California averaged 33.0 in 2019.

    • Qualifies: Summed across four NAEP tests, scores changed by -17 in California, -32 for the U.S., -35 in Florida and New York, -37 in Texas and +16 in Mississippi from 2013 to 2024.

  2. Government U.S. Census Bureau. 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances (May 7, 2026)

    Census release on public school spending per pupil.

    Reliability: Federal statistical agency; not adjusted for inflation or cost of living.

    • National per-pupil current spending was $17,619 in FY2024.

      What the source says
      Nationally, public school current spending per pupil rose 6.6% from $16,526 in fiscal year (FY) 2023 to $17,619 in FY 2024
      First paragraph
  3. Government Louisiana Department of Education. Louisiana education ranks fourth nationally on new study (Dec. 9, 2024)

    State release on the Urban Institute's demographically adjusted rankings.

    Reliability: Has a stake in this finding. Louisiana promotes its own ranking; cited only for the top-five list.

    • Florida, Texas and Mississippi were in the top five of the adjusted rankings.

      What the source says
      Louisiana ranked fourth overall. Other states in the top five are Florida, Texas, Mississippi, and Massachusetts.
      First paragraph
  4. Government California State Auditor. K-12 Local Control Funding: The State's Approach Has Not Ensured That Significant Funding Is Benefiting Students as Intended to Close Achievement Gaps (Report 2019-101, Nov. 2019)

    State audit of extra funding for high-need students.

    Reliability: Independent state auditor; some recommendations were later partly adopted.

    • Policymakers lacked adequate information to assess whether extra funds improved outcomes for high-need students.

      What the source says
      Policymakers and stakeholders lack adequate information to assess the impact of supplemental and concentration funds on the educational outcomes of the intended student groups.
      Audit Highlights
  5. Academic Public Policy Institute of California. Financing California's Public Schools

    Nonpartisan research institute's overview of school finance.

    Reliability: Nonpartisan research institute; figures are estimates as of July 2025.

    • Qualifies: After accounting for labor costs, California ranks about 31st in per-pupil spending.

      What the source says
      When differences in labor costs across states are accounted for, California drops to 31st.
      Spending comparisons
  6. Government California Department of Education. 2025-26 school accountability results (Release 26-44, Oct. 15, 2026)

    State education department release on test scores, graduation and enrollment.

    Reliability: Has a stake in this finding. The department reports on its own system's performance.

    • Qualifies: California's four-year graduation rate reached 87.9%, a decade high.

      What the source says
      four-year graduation rate reached 87.9 percent, its highest level in the past decade
      Graduation

    • Qualifies: Enrollment fell nearly 500,000 students, about 8%, over the past decade.

      What the source says
      nearly 500,000 fewer students, or an 8 percent decline, over the past decade.
      Enrollment
  7. FactHub dataset California vs. Texas, Florida, New York and the U.S.: spending and results, 2012-2025

    • Tables: peer

      Saved analysis pupil-spend-growth

    • Tables: peer

      Saved analysis adjusted-rank

    • Tables: peer

      Saved analysis naep-change

  8. FactHub chart ca-peer-pupil-spend-chart
  9. FactHub chart ms-ca-reading-chart

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