North Carolina has fallen to last place in the nation for public school funding, according to a new report by the Education Law Center. The report ranks all states and Washington, D.C. on cost-adjusted per-pupil spending — and North Carolina landed 51st out of 51, spending less per student than every other state in the country.
North Carolina currently spends $12,193 per student, which is $5,660 below the national average of $17,853. The report also found that North Carolina makes the lowest financial effort in the nation relative to the size of its economy, meaning the state invests far less in education than it is capable of.
By contrast, top-funded states spend more than double — and in some cases nearly triple — what North Carolina provides. Even neighboring South Carolina invests $17,698 per student, more than $5,500 ahead of North Carolina.
Full Ranking: Per-Pupil Funding by State (Cost-Adjusted)
(From highest to lowest)
1. New York – $29,440
2. Vermont – $27,067
3. Washington, D.C. – $26,223
4. New Jersey – $24,402
5. Connecticut – $23,583
6. Pennsylvania – $22,600
7. New Hampshire – $22,137
8. Illinois – $21,923
9. Maine – $21,078
10. Wyoming – $20,971
11. Michigan – $20,919
12. Rhode Island – $20,176
13. California – $19,894
14. Delaware – $19,435
15. Massachusetts – $19,097
16. Ohio – $19,055
17. Oregon – $18,780
18. North Dakota – $18,642
19. New Mexico – $18,616
20. Kansas – $18,132
21. Nebraska – $18,023
22. Washington – $17,888
23. Maryland – $17,809
24. Wisconsin – $17,784
25. South Carolina – $17,698
26. Minnesota – $17,654
27. Hawaii – $17,469
28. Alaska – $17,308
29. Kentucky – $17,058
30. Missouri – $16,866
31. Colorado – $16,780
32. West Virginia – $16,663
33. Indiana – $16,297
34. Montana – $16,291
35. Georgia – $16,049
36. Iowa – $15,940
37. Virginia – $15,815
38. Louisiana – $15,717
39. Alabama – $15,242
40. South Dakota – $15,011
41. Texas – $13,852
42. Arkansas – $13,849
43. Tennessee – $13,584
44. Mississippi – $13,559
45. Oklahoma – $13,295
46. Florida – $13,227
47. Nevada – $12,546
48. Arizona – $12,537
49. Utah – $12,522
50. North Carolina – $12,193
