School districts in the United States spent an average of $9,138 per student in fiscal year 2006, according to a just released report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Overall, Virginia spent more than the national average. Locally, in the New River Valley, the school districts spent less than both the state and national averages.

In Virginia, an average of $9,755 per student was spent in fiscal year 2006, compared to $9,202 in FY2005. The national average in 2005 was $8,701.

Montgomery County Public Schools spent an averaged of $8,700 per student in 2006. City of Radford was second with an average of $8,539, followed by Floyd County ($8,214), Pulaski County ($8,201) and Giles County ($7,839).

As for funding, Montgomery County received the most, $32,337,711 from local; $33,395,653 state; $9,530,449 from state retail sales and use tax; and $6,453,994 from federal. The City of Radford received $4,779,560 local; $6,241,227 state; $1,166,707 from state retail sales and use tax; and $858,822 federal. Floyd County received $5,514.905 locally; $8,282,568 state; $1,868,084 state retail sales and use tax; and $1,408.267 federal. Pulaski County received $12,277,234 locally; $19,161,074 state; $4,499.698 from state retail sales and use tax; and $3,933,389 federal. Giles County received $6,119,132 from local funds; $10,281,493 state; $2,328,151 from state retail sales and use tax; and $1,663,319 from federal.

Nationally, public school systems received $521.1 billion in funding from federal, state and local sources in 2006, a 6.7 percent increase over 2005.

State governments contributed the greatest share of funding to public school systems (47 percent), followed by local sources (44 percent) and the federal government (9 percent).

Montgomery County also had the highest expenditures, spending $81,717,707 in 2006. Pulaski County spent $39,871,396; Giles spent $20,392,086; while Floyd County and the City of Radford spent $17,073,824 and $13,046,316, respectively.

Nationally, total expenditures reached $526.6 billion, a 6 percent increase.

School district spending per pupil was highest in New York ($14,884), followed by New Jersey ($14,630) and the District of Columbia ($13,446). States where school districts spent the lowest amount per pupil were Utah ($5,437), Idaho ($6,440) and Arizona ($6,472).

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