New York's school spending is now 90% above the national average

ALBANY -- New York spent $22,366 per pupil at its public schools in 2016 — 90 percent above the national average, the U.S. Census Bureau said Monday.

New York's per-pupil spending on its schools has long led the nation, and the gap continues to grow as the state has increased aid to schools by 36 percent since 2012.

The average spending for all 50 states and the District of Columbia increased by 3.2 percent to $11,762 during the 2016 fiscal year, the Census Bureau said.

For New York, overall spending increased 5.5 percent between 2015 and 2016 and grew 14 percent since 2012 — when it was $19,076.

“Education has long been Governor Cuomo’s top funding priority," said Morris Peters, spokesman for the state Budget Division.

"Investments in prekindergarten and community schools, coupled with reforms that ensure transparency in how funding is distributed, are transforming public education across the state and providing all children with the opportunity to be successful.”

More:Funding for New York schools: What to know this year

More:Why NY’s school-aid formula is flunking

Database: 2018-19 State aid for NY school districts

The Census data showed that New York's revenue for its schools hit almost $67 billion in 2016 — including $36 billion from property taxes; $27 billion from the state and nearly $4 billion in federal aid.

Only California spent more total on education at $87 billion. But California has 6.2 million students compared to 2.6 million in New York.

New York's per-pupil spending was ahead of the District of Columbia ($19,159); Connecticut ($18,958); New Jersey ($18,402) and Vermont ($17,873).

New York ranked fifth in the largest increase in per-pupil spending in 2016, yet ranked fourth lowest in federal aid — receiving just 5 percent of its funding from Washington.

Only New Jersey (4.1 percent); Connecticut (4.2 percent); and Massachusetts received less in federal aid.

New York's school funding formula that decides how it spends its $27 billion in state aid has long been derided as being outdated and politically influenced.

An investigation by the USA Today Network in 2016 led to changes in the formula, but this year Gov. Andrew Cuomo added a new step: Large school districts will have to provide details back to the state on how it allocates the money.

"It's not enough to give funding to the poor districts. You have to make sure the money goes to the poorest schools, in the poorer districts," Cuomo said during his budget address in January.

"And right now we have no idea where the money is going."

But education advocates said the disparity between rich and poor school districts in New York is still pronounced.

Wealthy districts can tap into property taxes to increase spending on schools, while poor districts have a weaker tax base.

The spending gap between rich and poor districts is nearly $10,000 a year, said Billy Easton, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, an advocacy group.

"Overall spending looks high because wealthy districts spend so much, but our high need districts are significantly underfunded."