According to the 2002 Census of Governments Survey of Local Government Finances — School Systems, the most recent survey of its kind, education revenue from federal, state, and local sources reached $419.8 billion in the U.S. in 2002, up 4% from the previous year. The District of Columbia spent the most money per student ($13,187) annually, followed by New York ($11,546), and New Jersey ($11,436).
Public school systems spent $435.3 billion, up 6% from 2001, with about $224.8 billion spent on elementary-secondary instruction, $125.5 billion on services that support elementary-secondary instruction, $52.9 billion on capital outlay, and $32.1 billion on other items.