Children And Education

Maintaining


Per Student Spending

What does this measure?

Total spending by public school districts, divided by total pupils.

Why is this important?

Higher spending for schools can mean better facilities, programs, and a greater range of opportunities available to students. It may also signal public support for education and a better paid, more experienced teaching workforce. However, studies have found higher spending does not necessarily lead to higher student achievement, given many other factors that contribute to student success, including socioeconomic and parental influences.

How does our county compare?

In 2023, Lancaster County school districts spent just over $22,000 per student, 2.5% more than the statewide level of $21,500. The county rate represented a 23% increase since 2010, compared to a 12% increase at the statewide level.

The Lancaster City School District spent about $27,700 per student, a 40% increase since 2010.

Among surrounding counties, 2023 per-student spending was higher in Chester ($22,300), and less in Berks ($20,600), Dauphin ($20,400), Lebanon ($19,800), York ($19,700) and Cumberland ($18,600). Since 2010, per-student spending increased the most in Lancaster County compared to neighboring counties. Spending in Lebanon and Berks increased 15% and 11%, respectively, since 2010, while Chester and Dauphin had the lowest percent increase from 2010, at 4% and 2%, respectively.

Notes about the data

Figures are from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and have been adjusted to 2023 dollars. Per pupil expenditures are calculated by dividing a district's operating costs by its average enrollment across the school year.

Per Student Spending
20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania$19,131$19,201$18,724$19,125$19,331$20,382$20,853$22,047$21,335$21,799$22,470$22,172$21,688$21,489
Lancaster County$17,903$17,733$17,534$17,996$18,432$19,422$19,719$20,613$20,801$21,315$21,299$21,641$21,303$22,021
Berks County$18,508$18,100$18,242$18,844$18,381$20,367$19,683$20,906$20,579$20,980$21,329$21,188$19,896$20,630
Chester County$21,397$20,910$20,629$20,886$20,818$21,610$22,696$22,962$22,945$23,328$22,773$22,796$21,703$22,314
Cumberland County$17,264$18,143$16,805$17,663$17,328$18,333$18,973$19,067$18,934$18,644$18,918$20,288$18,266$18,622
Dauphin County$19,993$19,932$18,960$19,319$20,341$19,946$23,550$20,707$20,904$21,266$21,400$20,351$20,082$20,417
Lebanon County$17,288$16,308$16,182$16,847$17,037$16,969$17,748$18,406$18,563$18,338$17,966$18,247$18,023$19,833
York County$18,264$18,263$17,713$18,461$18,213$20,007$20,023$20,498$19,979$20,683$21,700$21,770$19,638$19,692

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Notes: Figures are in constant 2023 dollars.




Total Spending
20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania$33,997,866,939$33,997,030,517$32,861,752,550$33,437,404,570$33,629,590,200$35,207,386,516$35,939,701,934$37,908,045,813$36,659,323,716$37,419,037,926$38,561,493,412$37,479,104,885$36,495,671,091$35,854,074,819
Lancaster County$1,247,141,830$1,238,032,964$1,220,699,019$1,253,653,162$1,275,385,848$1,338,641,687$1,353,010,844$1,413,616,011$1,423,979,497$1,451,289,427$1,439,610,129$1,439,500,565$1,400,662,790$1,438,356,067
Berks County$1,308,187,460$1,289,954,992$1,293,661,368$1,325,007,703$1,280,407,167$1,409,665,646$1,361,773,011$1,441,695,960$1,424,558,741$1,455,575,339$1,480,688,808$1,450,239,522$1,367,174,625$1,407,567,549
Chester County$1,602,425,206$1,575,161,253$1,559,052,639$1,582,878,793$1,588,689,209$1,644,000,195$1,724,312,369$1,762,004,140$1,773,908,350$1,813,335,188$1,779,312,632$1,746,136,266$1,676,679,047$1,708,133,237
Cumberland County$504,761,515$531,626,728$495,764,134$523,728,821$520,329,138$551,760,819$573,371,739$585,805,087$587,527,499$587,334,208$607,130,428$642,142,776$589,179,039$611,825,971
Dauphin County$747,648,945$739,408,137$683,818,375$704,510,380$743,585,476$732,840,719$870,536,705$774,479,340$795,172,338$819,597,774$834,061,649$791,590,699$791,284,926$807,818,102
Lebanon County$336,087,135$315,072,200$314,790,925$332,121,319$333,698,009$334,613,638$350,968,196$363,934,666$378,492,343$375,300,211$369,271,068$369,441,462$365,122,354$402,213,914
York County$1,285,630,867$1,291,380,276$1,252,060,212$1,298,297,626$1,278,452,047$1,400,227,462$1,410,195,164$1,443,953,400$1,414,476,947$1,463,960,078$1,546,166,713$1,519,179,236$1,386,606,663$1,393,543,409

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Notes: Figures are in constant 2023 dollars.




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