The Associated Press reported that while Texas has moved up several spots in spending per pupil in the U.S. thanks to rising property values and additional state funding, it still ranks in the bottom third of states in a new study released on Wednesday.
Figures compiled by the National Education Association show that Texas schools are spending an average $9,559 per student in the current school year. That is well under the national average of $12,040 and ranks Texas 38th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Last year, Texas was 46th in the comparisons, based on numbers furnished to the NEA by state education agencies.
Texas also is now spending just under $100 more per student than four years ago, when massive funding cuts were enacted by the Legislature. Compared with the national average, Texas is spending $54,582 less per elementary classroom, according to the NEA study.
Preliminary NEA figures also show that per pupil spending in Texas – with increased property tax revenues and state aid – has now surpassed what was spent in the 2010-11 school year. That was the year before the Legislature imposed unprecedented funding cuts for schools to help balance the state budget.
Texas spent $9,462 per student in 2010-11, ranking 40th among the states. Four years later, the state is spending $97 more per student in the 2014-15 year.
NEA figures also showed that the average teacher salary in Texas moved up in the rankings this year, from 35th to 29th. Teachers earned an average $50,576. That was up about $886 from a year ago. But Texas is still well below the national average of $57,379.
You can read the full report from the National Education Foundation here.