School finance
District finance figures come from the School District Finance Survey (F-33), which NCES runs with the Census Bureau. The latest district file covers fiscal year 2023 (school year 2022–23).
District finance profiles are being added in the next data update. This page explains the measures they will use.
Measures we will show
- Total revenue by source: federal, state and local revenue, in nominal dollars for the fiscal year.
- Current spending per student: day-to-day spending on instruction, support services and operations, divided by the district's enrollment. It leaves out building construction and debt payments.
How to compare finance figures
- Fiscal years differ across districts; the survey does not align them to one calendar.
- Costs vary by region, so the same dollar figure buys different amounts in different places. Figures are not adjusted for cost of living or inflation.
- Total spending and current spending are different measures and are never mixed in one comparison.
- Finance years lag enrollment years: a profile may show 2024–25 enrollment beside fiscal 2023 finance, and both years are always printed.
Source: NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33). State totals: Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances.