Why New York City Spends So Much on Its Mediocre Schools

"New York City spends more money per pupil—north of $40,000—than any of the other 100 largest public-school districts in the country, and more than twice as much as the median district."

"The problem is that the student body is small relative to the resources devoted to it, and shrinking fast—but the city and state governments won't cut education spending accordingly."

"According to a cross-district analysis by the National Center for Education Statistics, New York City spent 61 percent of its education budget on instructor compensation in 2023."

New York City is projected to have a $5 billion budget deficit, requiring revenue increases or spending cuts. Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposed tax increases and modest program cuts. Education spending, at about $40 billion annually, constitutes a third of the budget and is largely untouchable. Despite high per-pupil spending, educational outcomes remain average. The city's public-school system is large but has a shrinking student body, complicating financial management. A significant portion of the education budget, 61%, is allocated to teacher compensation, further straining resources.

Read at The Atlantic