Fla. receives low marks for education spending

Florida was below the national average for education spending per student, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report.

The state spent $9,035 per student during the 2007-08 school year, 12 percent lower than the national average of $10,259.

The Duval County School District spent $8,653 per student, 4 percent below the state figure.

Of the money Florida spent on its students, 39.4 percent came from state revenue, while 52.3 percent came from local taxes and 8.3 percent came from the federal government.

Of Duval County's spending on students, 46.7 percent came from state revenue, 44.8 came from local taxes and 8.6 percent came from the federal government.

Nationally, on average, 48.3 percent of funding comes from state revenue, while 36.6 come from local sources and 8.1 percent is provided by the federal government.

New York spent the most on each elementary, middle and high school student, at $17,173, while Utah spent the least, at $5,765.

The numbers come from the Census Bureau’s Public Education Finances 2008 report, released Monday, which catalogs education spending and sources of revenue.