A new report from the United States Census says Georgia spends less than the national average on education.
Per-pupil spending for Georgia schools was $9,202 in 2014, according to the new report. That's $1,807 less than the the national average.
Each school district gets a mix of federal, state and local tax dollars, so the amount varies by district. In metro Atlanta, the Cobb County School District spent at the low end, at $8,651 per pupil, while Atlanta Public Schools topped the local list at $12,994.
Gwinnett County Public Schools, the state’s largest district, allocates $9,270 per pupil, just above the state average, with Fulton County Schools spending a little more at $9,638.
Debates have raged for years about the relevance of spending on academic outcomes. On the one hand, are those who say extra funding has gone into administration faster than the classroom. On the other, are those who say states that spend more see better results.
Expect the debate to flame next year when Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to push for changes to Georgia's decades-old school funding formula.
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