(The Center Square) – Students in Wisconsin are heading back to school this week with a new snapshot of the state’s school spending picture.
The Badger Institute released a report that shows raw, per-pupil spending in Wisconsin has doubled since 2000.
“In 2023-2024, school districts in Wisconsin took in $15.3 billion in revenue and educated 827,397 students as counted by the DPI for school finance purposes. Dividing one by the other gives a per-pupil revenue figure,” the report explains.
In 2020, the Badger Institute explained, Wisconsin spent a little less than $8,000 per-student. In 2024, the Badger Institute put that number at a little more than $18,000.
“On a statewide basis, revenue per pupil has increased every school year since 1999-2000 with two exceptions: 2011-12 and 2012-13, following the Act 10 labor reforms,” the Badger Institute wrote. “This most recent school year, per-pupil revenue increased $684. Over the past four years, increases have averaged $964 per year.”
When you factor-in inflation, the report says the increases are not as steep. But the Badger Institute said schools are spending more per-student today than they were 25 years ago.
“Even after accounting for inflation, revenues are increasing. The 1999-2000 revenue level was equivalent to $16,339 in 2024 dollars. That climbed to an inflation-adjusted $18,445 in 2010,” the Badger Institute noted. “After Act 10, revenue in 2024-dollar terms decreased to $16,837 per pupil but has generally increased since then.”
One reason why per-pupil spending is so fluid is because Wisconsin continues to lose students.
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In 2000 the Department of Public Instruction’s numbers show there were 869,665 students in the state. Last year there were 827,397 students.
“The Badger Institute has previously reported on trends in Wisconsin’s per-pupil spending. The total education cost per member in 2023-24 was $17,400, up 6.5% from $16,345 in 2022-23,” the Badger Institute added in its report.