For the 2025-26 school year, New York school districts are projected to spend an average of $35,012 per student, a notable increase of 4.6% from the previous year. This trend of rising expenditures is occurring even as many districts face declining student enrollments. With 502 districts surpassing the projected inflation rate, regional disparities in spending highlight Long Island's lead at $39,653 per student. Compounding this, state funding is set to increase by $1.7 billion, while many districts still plan to raise property taxes, breaching the state's established caps.
New York school districts plan to spend an average of $35,012 per student in 2025-26, a 4.6% increase over the current year.
502 of the state's 667 districts are increasing spending beyond the projected 2.3% inflation rate, while 271 expect declines in student population.
Long Island leads in spending at $39,653 per student, with Western New York budgeting the least at $29,288.
Despite record state aid, 385 districts plan to raise property taxes beyond inflation, with 40 exceeding the tax cap.
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