DeKalb County spends less per student than most Atlanta districts

Georgia spends less than the national average on education, appearing near the bottom of the list of states, according to new figures from the U.S. Census.

The report breaks down spending by big school districts, and in metro Atlanta, DeKalb County spent less than most, at $8,847 per pupil, which is less than the state average.

Spending on education is expected to be part of a furious debate during next year’s legislative session, when Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to push changes to Georgia’s decades-old school funding formula, which demands more than the state has been willing to pay.