Press Release
Public Schools Funding Hits Nearly $24,000 Per Student While Achievement Declines
Harrisburg, Pa., May 11, 2026 — New data reveals funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools spiked to nearly $24,000 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
In addition to record-high spending, school districts continue to hoard reserve funds, with an average of $4,649 held for every public-school student.
Pennsylvania continues to outspend other states on education, ranking tenth in the nation in total per-student funding, about $4,000 more than the national average.
While funding remains high, student achievement continues to plateau. Recent test scores reveal that more than half of kids are reading below grade level. And nearly two-in-three students are below average in math.
Rachel Langan, Sr. Education Policy Analyst, issued the following statement in response:
“Pennsylvania saw yet another school year where ‘historic education funding’ results in stagnant student achievement and growing tax-credit scholarship waitlists.
“For more than a decade, Pennsylvania public schools received record-high funding, while testing reveals Pennsylvania students continue to fall behind.
“There is a clear disconnect between steadily rising funding and stagnant academic outcomes. Unsurprisingly, more money is not leading to improved results.
“Pennsylvania tax dollars should stop funding broken systems and instead follow students to the schools of their choice. This can be done by expanding transformative educational options to meet demand from families, such as tax-credit scholarships like EITC, OSTC, the new FSTC, and the proposed Learning Investment Tax Credit, and Lifeline Scholarships.
“With increased options, our students will thrive, not just survive.”
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