Students at University High SchoolArizona schools spent 30 percent less per student in 2014 than the national average for 2012, the Arizona Auditor General’s School District Funding Report says.
The state average for per pupil spending was $7,578 in 2014, and the national average was $10,667 in 2012, the report showed.
Per pupil funding is divided into classroom dollars and non-classroom dollars. Transportation, administration, food services, student support and instruction support are included in non-classroom dollars.
“I find it inspiring that our schools have continued to strive for excellence given the restraints placed upon them by limited budgets,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas said in a press release accompanying the audit report. “The dollar-to-dollar comparisons of Arizona expenditures to national averages are truly sobering when we consider how much less our schools have to work with.”
Gov. Doug Ducey has proposed shifting $113 million out of non-classroom funds and into instruction for Arizona schools.
Pima County’s largest school district – Tucson Unified – spent 48.7 percent of its total funds per student in classroom dollars, compared with 49.2 percent in 2013, the auditor general reported.
The state's schools spent an average of 54 percent of their funding for instruction, fewer dollars than the national average of 61 percent.
The report also showed the number of students attending TUSD has been on the decline. Administrative costs per student increased at the district while teacher salaries decreased.
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