Chicago Public Schools is spending more per student despite plummeting test scores

Chicago Public Schools instructional and operational spending reached all-time highs while academic outcomes stagnate.

Average spending per student in Chicago Public Schools has soared in recent years. In Fiscal Year 2022, instructional and operational spending per student came in at $15,274 and $24,132, respectively. In FY2018, those figures were $10,314 and $15,878, representing increases of 48% and 52%.

That dramatic increase in spending per student has not improved academic outcomes. In 2018, 25.1% of CPS 11th graders achieved or exceeded proficiency in reading on the SAT. For mathematics, 25.1% achieved or exceeded proficiency. By 2022, the numbers of students achieving or exceeding proficiency dropped to 21.0% in reading and to 20.5% in mathematics.

Instructional spending only includes activities directly related to interactions between students and teachers or the teaching of students. Operational spending includes instructional spending plus nearly all costs for overall operations in the school district.

The percentage of students who are “partially meeting,” proficiency standards on the SAT has increased as the number of students achieving proficiency has decreased. In 2018, only 33.6% and 43.2% of students partially met proficiency in ELA and math. By 2022, those figures had risen to 40.1% and 55.3%.

While other CPS metrics such as graduation rates have marginally improved in recent years, higher per pupil spending has not improved academic performance. Perhaps it’s time for CPS to better allocate financial resources so that students can actually thrive.