Hawai‘i per-student spending is about at national average

State support of nonprofit organizations has historically taken a back seat to support for the statewide public school system. Recently, as state revenues have rebounded, government has invested significantly in that system, increasing teacher salaries, renovating buildings and adding new classrooms. So, where do we stand?

The Census Bureau on May 24 released a study of per-student spending for public schools across the nation. New York led the list, spending an average of $14,119 per student in public school, while Utah trailed all states at $5,257 per student. Hawai‘i spends $8,997 per student per year. The national average is $8,701 – 21 states and the District of Columbia spent more, 29 less.

The Census report, “Public Education Finances 2005,” includes the latest statistics on public education nationally and by state. The report shows Hawai‘i spent $1.7 billion on elementary and high school public education in the 2004-2005 school year. $1 billion of that was spent on salaries and wages and another $320 million on employee benefits.

Hawai‘i lagged every state except Rhode Island in capital outlay for construction, land purchase and equipment, spending $61.5 million. Rhode Island spent only $20 million, while California spent $10.2 billion. At the same time, Hawai‘i’s public school system had no outstanding debt at the end of the fiscal year, while every other state’s public schools were up to their ears in debts ranging from $85 million in Wyoming to $39.8 billion in Texas.