Section 6. Expenditures of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: Current Expenditures

Between 2004–05 and 2017–18, increases are expected in the current expenditures and current expenditures per pupil of public elementary and secondary schools (figures L and M; reference figures 31 and 32 and table 34).

Figure L. Actual and middle alternative projected numbers for current expenditures in public elementary and secondary schools in 2005–06 dollars: Selected years, 1992–93 through 2017–18

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NOTE: Data were placed in constant 2005–06 dollars using the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (BLS, U.S. Dept. of Labor). SOURCE: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES, Common Core of Data, "National Public Education Finance Survey," various years; National Elementary and Secondary Enrollment Model; and Elementary and Secondary School Current Expenditures Model. (See reference table 34.)

Current expenditures

Current expenditures in constant 2005–06 dollars increased 43 percent from 1992–93 to 2004–05, a period of 12 years.

From 2004–05 to 2017–18, a period of 13 years, current expenditures in constant 2005–06 dollars are projected to increase

• 42 percent, to $626 billion, in the middle alternative projections;
• 32 percent, to $582 billion, in the low alternative projections; and
• 50 percent, to $661 billion, in the high alternative projections.

Other factors that may affect the projections

Many factors that may affect future school expenditures and teacher salaries were not considered in the production of these projections. Such factors include policy initiatives, as well as potential changes in the distribution of elementary and secondary teachers as older teachers retire and are replaced by younger teachers.

Figure M. Actual and middle alternative projected numbers for current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools in 2005–06 dollars: Selected years, 1992–93 through 2017–18

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NOTE: Data were placed in constant 2005-06 dollars using the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (BLS, U.S. Dept. of Labor). SOURCE: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES, Common Core of Data, "National Public Education Finance Survey," various years; National Elementary and Secondary Enrollment Model; and Elementary and Secondary School Current Expenditures Model. (See reference table 34.)

Current expenditures per pupil

Current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment in constant 2005–06 dollars increased 25 percent from 1992–93 to 2004–05.

From 2004–05 to 2017–18, current expenditures in constant 2005–06 dollars per pupil in fall enrollment are projected to increase

• 28 percent, to $11,600, in the middle alternative projections;
• 19 percent, to $10,800, in the low alternative projections; and
• 35 percent, to $12,200, in the high alternative projections.

Constant versus current dollars

Throughout this section, projections of current expenditures are presented in constant 2005–06 dollars. The reference tables, later in this report, present these data both in constant 2005–06 dollars and in current dollars. The projections were developed in constant dollars and then placed in current dollars using projections for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) (table B-6 in appendix B). Three alternative sets of projections for the CPI were used, one with each set of projections (low, middle, and high).

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