Total expenditures per student, adjusted for inflation, increased between 1991–92 and 2000–01, with the largest increases in midsize cities and rural areas.

This indicator examines total expenditures per student in fall enrollment, adjusted for inflation, across seven location types between 1991–92 and 2000–01.¹ Total expenditures per student include all expenditures allocable to per student costs divided by fall enrollment. These allocable expenditures include current expenditures for regular school programs, interest on school debt, and capital outlay.

During this period, total expenditures per student increased by 25 percent from $6,950 in 1991–92 to $8,700 in 2000–01 (see table 35-1). Much of this increase occurred after 1995–96. The highest total expenditures ($9,450) were in large cities and in urban fringes of large cities ($9,150). Expenditures per student in midsize cities ($8,580) and in rural areas ($8,420) were below the average, while those in urban fringes of midsize cities ($7,900), small towns ($7,700), and large towns ($7,530) were the lowest. Expenditure variations may be partly attributable to variations in costs of living across different locations.

During this period, expenditures per student increased by 30 percent in rural areas and in midsize cities. Expenditures increased the least in urban fringes of midsize cities (11 percent). There was a shift in the profile of expenditures per student by location. For example, in 1991–92, expenditures per student in urban fringes of midsize cities were larger than expenditures in midsize cities and rural areas. In contrast, expenditures per student in midsize cities and rural areas in 2000–01 surpassed those in urban fringes of midsize cities.

Current expenditures per student reflect the shift observed for total expenditures by location. Overall, current expenditures per student rose 24 percent between 1991–92 and 2000–01, with the largest increases occurring in midsize cities (33 percent) and rural areas (28 percent) and the smallest increase in urban fringes of midsize cities (9 percent) (see table 35-2). As a result, current expenditures per student in midsize cities and rural areas surpassed those of urban fringes of midsize cities by 2000–01.

¹Total expenditures exclude expenditures for nonelementary and secondary programs that include community services, adult education, and other. See supplemental note 9 for further information on the accounting terms used in this indicator. (back to text)