The biggest spenders in California
Spending a lot doesn't mean you always get a lot. Here are California's biggest spenders per student.
Spending vs. Reading
Across California districts with spending data, spending more per student has little relationship with reading scores.
Large Districts spending > $30,000 per student
The biggest spenders per student among districts with at least 2,000 students.
Fresno County • Elementary | $42,724 | 37.9% | 15.8% | 4,460 |
San Mateo County • Elementary | $40,730 | 12.1% | 7.1% | 2,528 |
Monterey County • Unified | $38,424 | 73.2% | 65.8% | 2,152 |
Sonoma County • Elementary | $37,873 | 33.3% | 28.6% | 2,836 |
San Diego County • Elementary | $35,536 | 52.0% | 44.0% | 4,196 |
Orange County • Unified | $34,914 | 77.5% | 72.1% | 2,279 |
Santa Clara County • High | $34,233 | 78.5% | 67.5% | 4,435 |
San Joaquin County • Unified | $32,739 | 24.5% | 12.2% | 3,563 |
Los Angeles County • Unified | $31,720 | 71.1% | 62.8% | 3,661 |
Santa Clara County • Unified | $31,608 | 82.3% | 79.6% | 10,187 |
San Diego County • Unified | $30,401 | 28.4% | 25.7% | 3,258 |
Sutter County • Elementary | $30,159 | 45.7% | 41.4% | 2,843 |
Medium Districts spending > $30,000 per student
The biggest spenders per student among districts with 1,000-1,999 students.
Napa County • Unified | $37,530 | 58.6% | 42.6% | 1,104 |
San Mateo County • Elementary | $32,506 | 83.6% | 83.2% | 1,134 |
San Mateo County • Elementary | $30,843 | 84.7% | 85.8% | 1,239 |
Small Districts spending > $30,000 per student
The biggest spenders per student among districts with fewer than 1,000 students.
Inyo County • Unified | $95,928 | 35.0% | 25.0% | 21 |
Sonoma County • Elementary | $80,550 | 38.5% | 15.4% | 20 |
Alpine County • Unified | $59,611 | 42.9% | 31.3% | 57 |
Marin County • Elementary | $57,631 | 63.2% | 50.0% | 109 |
Alameda County • Elementary | $56,446 | 69.2% | 38.5% | 14 |
Sonoma County • Elementary | $52,930 | 46.1% | 38.5% | 23 |
Glenn County • Unified | $50,061 | 32.1% | 28.6% | 83 |
Mendocino County • Elementary | $48,005 | 23.8% | 4.8% | 34 |
Fresno County • Elementary | $44,860 | 53.2% | 35.6% | 67 |
Butte County • Elementary | $44,461 | 29.2% | 20.8% | 41 |
Santa Barbara County • Elementary | $44,190 | 90.8% | 91.6% | 353 |
Marin County • Elementary | $43,830 | 48.5% | 40.1% | 262 |
Siskiyou County • High | $41,700 | 20.0% | 13.3% | 61 |
Trinity County • Unified | $41,513 | 52.5% | 37.5% | 72 |
Sonoma County • Elementary | $41,326 | 24.4% | 13.3% | 69 |
Humboldt County • Unified | $40,128 | 35.3% | 52.9% | 42 |
Marin County • Unified | $39,567 | 35.2% | 31.8% | 469 |
San Mateo County • Elementary | $39,108 | 85.6% | 84.3% | 495 |
San Mateo County • Elementary | $38,453 | 87.4% | 83.0% | 385 |
Inyo County • Unified | $38,154 | 24.1% | 29.9% | 151 |
Siskiyou County • Elementary | $37,764 | 23.1% | 7.7% | 65 |
Lassen County • Unified | $37,457 | 12.7% | 4.6% | 519 |
Kern County • Elementary | $36,962 | 54.5% | 18.2% | 22 |
San Diego County • High | $36,910 | 47.2% | 22.2% | 112 |
Butte County • Elementary | $36,704 | 36.6% | 34.1% | 67 |