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After inflation, Washington's per-pupil spending rose 30% and passed the U.S. average

Per-pupil current expenditures in constant 2022-23 dollars for Washington and the United States, school years 2010-11 to 2020-21 (NCES).

Credit: FactHub; data: National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics Table 236.65

Node: chart:wa-real-per-pupil-spending-trend

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Line chart of inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending. Washington rose from $13,039 in 2010-11 to $16,970 in 2018-19 and $17,783 in 2020-21. The U.S. average rose from $14,453 to $15,606 and $16,280. Washington crossed above the U.S. average in 2017-18.

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In constant 2022-23 dollars, Washington's per-pupil spending rose 30% between 2010-11 and 2018-19, from $13,039 to $16,970, while the U.S. average rose 8%, from $14,453 to $15,606. Washington moved from about 10% below the national average to about 9% above it.

What this chart asks

Did Washington's school spending per student rise faster than inflation, and faster than other states?

Why it is shown this way

  • Inflation-adjusted dollars answer whether spending grew in real terms, not just on paper.
  • Per-pupil figures already account for changes in enrollment.
  • The national line shows whether Washington's growth was unusual.

Chart annotations

These markers provide relevant context for interpreting the chart. Their timing or position does not, by itself, establish causation.

Includes federal pandemic relief
2020–2021

NCES notes that 2019-20 and 2020-21 expenditures include CARES, CRRSA and ARP funds.

Why this is marked: Flags years whose spending was boosted by one-time federal funds, per the NCES table footnote.

Axis does not start at zero
Value: 17783

Why this is marked: Discloses the truncated axis wherever the chart is used.

Data and accessibility

Download chart data · Open accessible table · Download PNG · Download SVG

Dataset wa-k12-spending-outcomes, analysis real-ppe-trend

Sources

This chart draws on the sources of the dataset versions it visualizes.

Washington K-12 spending and outcomes: per-pupil spending (nominal and inflation-adjusted), enrollment, Kids Count rank, NAEP math

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2024 (2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances) Primary statistical source for per-pupil spending values

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  2. U.S. Census Bureau, Public School Spending Per Pupil Reaches Historic High in 2024 (CB26-TPS.29, May 7, 2026) Primary source for national average ($17,619) and District of Columbia value

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  3. CRBC News (republishing Business Insider), School Spending 2024: How Much Each U.S. State Spends Per Public School Student (Ranked), June 11, 2026 Secondary source used only to pair each Census value with its state; every value cross-checked against the Census chart

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  4. Washington State Standard via Seattle's Child, WA is stuck mid-pack in national education ranking (June 2025) News report of Kids Count 2025 Data Book; source for 'ten years ago, Washington was 20th'

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  5. Seattle's Child, KIDS COUNT 2024: WA must do better for kids News summary of the 2024 Kids Count Data Book (education rank 26th)

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  6. Seattle's Child, 2025 KIDS COUNT: Washington state's education rankings decline News summary of the 2025 Kids Count Data Book (education rank fell from 26th to 27th; four indicator values)

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  7. Washington State Standard via Seattle's Child, 2026 KIDS COUNT Spotlight: Big drop in WA education ranking News report of the 2026 Kids Count Data Book (education rank fell from 27th to 31st)

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

  8. NCES, 2024 Mathematics State Snapshot Report, Washington Grade 8 Primary source for 2003, 2022, 2024 scores

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  9. NCES, 2019 Mathematics State Snapshot Report, Washington Grade 8 Primary source for 2017 and 2019 scores

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  10. NCES, 2015 Mathematics State Snapshot Report, Washington Grade 8 Primary source for 2013 and 2015 scores

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  11. NCES, Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 236.65: Current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment, by state, 1969-70 through 2020-21 Primary source for nominal and inflation-adjusted (constant 2022-23 dollars) per-pupil current expenditures

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

  12. NCES, Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2031 Primary source for Washington public school enrollment

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

Limitations

  • Y axis does not start at zero.
  • CPI adjustment does not capture school-specific cost increases or regional costs.
  • 2019-20 and 2020-21 include federal pandemic relief funds.
  • NCES data end in 2020-21; Census FY2024 figures use a different definition and are not added to this line.

Articles and datasets using this chart

Version details

The exact citing versions, and the version of this chart each cites.

  • Article wa-school-spending-results — version 3 (published) cites version 1
  • Article wa-school-spending-results — version 2 (published) cites version 1