Idaho’s average per-pupil spending increased by about $600 to $13,666 in the 2025-26 school year, according to state numbers. The Gem State has ranked last in per-pupil spending in recent years, based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Varied Spending Across Districts

Per-pupil spending varies widely among districts and charter schools due to factors such as size, local supplemental levies, and other considerations. For example, per-pupil spending ranges from $7,183 at Idaho Home Learning Academy, a virtual charter school, to $50,512 at Three Creek Elementary School District, which has five students.

The top 10 spenders are small, rural districts with 100 or fewer students. In contrast, the 10 lowest spenders are charter schools, which do not receive local tax dollars and have different funding structures than traditional districts. Six districts have indefinite levies or unique taxing structures that were grandfathered in under state law, resulting in varied spending levels, all of which are above the state average.

The calculation of per-pupil expenditures includes state dollars, supplemental levies, and federal funds, but excludes bonds and plant-facility levies used for building and updating schools.

Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.