How much of school district revenue is federal, by state

14.1% of U.S. school district revenue came from federal sources in fiscal year 2022-23, weighting each district by its students. The federal share was highest in Mississippi (22.7%) and lowest in Vermont (6.7%).

NCES F-33 fiscal year 2022-23 · enrollment-weighted over districts · this page first published · data checked · method

U.S.14.1%50 states measured
Most federal22.7%Mississippi
Least federal6.7%Vermont
Federal share of district revenue by stateAK 19%; AL 17%; AR 20%; AZ 18%; CA 12%; CO 10%; CT 9%; DC 13%; DE 13%; FL 18%; GA 16%; HI 15%; IA 11%; ID 18%; IL 11%; IN 12%; KS 9%; KY 20%; LA 19%; MA 10%; MD 12%; ME 10%; MI 13%; MN 11%; MO 15%; MS 23%; MT 19%; NC 20%; ND 16%; NE 12%; NH 9%; NJ 7%; NM 17%; NV 16%; NY 11%; OH 14%; OK 19%; OR 11%; PA 11%; RI 12%; SC 15%; SD 19%; TN 19%; TX 17%; UT 13%; VA 12%; VT 7%; WA 12%; WI 11%; WV 18%; WY 13%AK: 19%AK19%ME: 10%ME10%WI: 11%WI11%VT: 7%VT7%NH: 9%NH9%WA: 12%WA12%ID: 18%ID18%MT: 19%MT19%ND: 16%ND16%MN: 11%MN11%IL: 11%IL11%MI: 13%MI13%NY: 11%NY11%MA: 10%MA10%OR: 11%OR11%NV: 16%NV16%WY: 13%WY13%SD: 19%SD19%IA: 11%IA11%IN: 12%IN12%OH: 14%OH14%PA: 11%PA11%NJ: 7%NJ7%CT: 9%CT9%RI: 12%RI12%CA: 12%CA12%UT: 13%UT13%CO: 10%CO10%NE: 12%NE12%MO: 15%MO15%KY: 20%KY20%WV: 18%WV18%VA: 12%VA12%MD: 12%MD12%DE: 13%DE13%AZ: 18%AZ18%NM: 17%NM17%KS: 9%KS9%AR: 20%AR20%TN: 19%TN19%NC: 20%NC20%SC: 15%SC15%DC: 13%DC13%OK: 19%OK19%LA: 19%LA19%MS: 23%MS23%AL: 17%AL17%GA: 16%GA16%HI: 15%HI15%TX: 17%TX17%FL: 18%FL18%
Federal share of district revenue by stateAK 19%; AL 17%; AR 20%; AZ 18%; CA 12%; CO 10%; CT 9%; DC 13%; DE 13%; FL 18%; GA 16%; HI 15%; IA 11%; ID 18%; IL 11%; IN 12%; KS 9%; KY 20%; LA 19%; MA 10%; MD 12%; ME 10%; MI 13%; MN 11%; MO 15%; MS 23%; MT 19%; NC 20%; ND 16%; NE 12%; NH 9%; NJ 7%; NM 17%; NV 16%; NY 11%; OH 14%; OK 19%; OR 11%; PA 11%; RI 12%; SC 15%; SD 19%; TN 19%; TX 17%; UT 13%; VA 12%; VT 7%; WA 12%; WI 11%; WV 18%; WY 13%AK: 19%AK19%ME: 10%ME10%WI: 11%WI11%VT: 7%VT7%NH: 9%NH9%WA: 12%WA12%ID: 18%ID18%MT: 19%MT19%ND: 16%ND16%MN: 11%MN11%IL: 11%IL11%MI: 13%MI13%NY: 11%NY11%MA: 10%MA10%OR: 11%OR11%NV: 16%NV16%WY: 13%WY13%SD: 19%SD19%IA: 11%IA11%IN: 12%IN12%OH: 14%OH14%PA: 11%PA11%NJ: 7%NJ7%CT: 9%CT9%RI: 12%RI12%CA: 12%CA12%UT: 13%UT13%CO: 10%CO10%NE: 12%NE12%MO: 15%MO15%KY: 20%KY20%WV: 18%WV18%VA: 12%VA12%MD: 12%MD12%DE: 13%DE13%AZ: 18%AZ18%NM: 17%NM17%KS: 9%KS9%AR: 20%AR20%TN: 19%TN19%NC: 20%NC20%SC: 15%SC15%DC: 13%DC13%OK: 19%OK19%LA: 19%LA19%MS: 23%MS23%AL: 17%AL17%GA: 16%GA16%HI: 15%HI15%TX: 17%TX17%FL: 18%FL18%
Federal share of district revenue by stateAK 19%; AL 17%; AR 20%; AZ 18%; CA 12%; CO 10%; CT 9%; DC 13%; DE 13%; FL 18%; GA 16%; HI 15%; IA 11%; ID 18%; IL 11%; IN 12%; KS 9%; KY 20%; LA 19%; MA 10%; MD 12%; ME 10%; MI 13%; MN 11%; MO 15%; MS 23%; MT 19%; NC 20%; ND 16%; NE 12%; NH 9%; NJ 7%; NM 17%; NV 16%; NY 11%; OH 14%; OK 19%; OR 11%; PA 11%; RI 12%; SC 15%; SD 19%; TN 19%; TX 17%; UT 13%; VA 12%; VT 7%; WA 12%; WI 11%; WV 18%; WY 13%AK: 19%AKME: 10%MEWI: 11%WIVT: 7%VTNH: 9%NHWA: 12%WAID: 18%IDMT: 19%MTND: 16%NDMN: 11%MNIL: 11%ILMI: 13%MINY: 11%NYMA: 10%MAOR: 11%ORNV: 16%NVWY: 13%WYSD: 19%SDIA: 11%IAIN: 12%INOH: 14%OHPA: 11%PANJ: 7%NJCT: 9%CTRI: 12%RICA: 12%CAUT: 13%UTCO: 10%CONE: 12%NEMO: 15%MOKY: 20%KYWV: 18%WVVA: 12%VAMD: 12%MDDE: 13%DEAZ: 18%AZNM: 17%NMKS: 9%KSAR: 20%ARTN: 19%TNNC: 20%NCSC: 15%SCDC: 13%DCOK: 19%OKLA: 19%LAMS: 23%MSAL: 17%ALGA: 16%GAHI: 15%HITX: 17%TXFL: 18%FL
Federal share of district revenue by stateAK 19%; AL 17%; AR 20%; AZ 18%; CA 12%; CO 10%; CT 9%; DC 13%; DE 13%; FL 18%; GA 16%; HI 15%; IA 11%; ID 18%; IL 11%; IN 12%; KS 9%; KY 20%; LA 19%; MA 10%; MD 12%; ME 10%; MI 13%; MN 11%; MO 15%; MS 23%; MT 19%; NC 20%; ND 16%; NE 12%; NH 9%; NJ 7%; NM 17%; NV 16%; NY 11%; OH 14%; OK 19%; OR 11%; PA 11%; RI 12%; SC 15%; SD 19%; TN 19%; TX 17%; UT 13%; VA 12%; VT 7%; WA 12%; WI 11%; WV 18%; WY 13%AK: 19%AKME: 10%MEWI: 11%WIVT: 7%VTNH: 9%NHWA: 12%WAID: 18%IDMT: 19%MTND: 16%NDMN: 11%MNIL: 11%ILMI: 13%MINY: 11%NYMA: 10%MAOR: 11%ORNV: 16%NVWY: 13%WYSD: 19%SDIA: 11%IAIN: 12%INOH: 14%OHPA: 11%PANJ: 7%NJCT: 9%CTRI: 12%RICA: 12%CAUT: 13%UTCO: 10%CONE: 12%NEMO: 15%MOKY: 20%KYWV: 18%WVVA: 12%VAMD: 12%MDDE: 13%DEAZ: 18%AZNM: 17%NMKS: 9%KSAR: 20%ARTN: 19%TNNC: 20%NCSC: 15%SCDC: 13%DCOK: 19%OKLA: 19%LAMS: 23%MSAL: 17%ALGA: 16%GAHI: 15%HITX: 17%TXFL: 18%FL

Federal share of district revenue

  • 6.7% to under 10.8%
  • 10.8% to under 12.2%
  • 12.2% to under 15.1%
  • 15.1% to under 18.3%
  • 18.3% and up

D.C. is one city system, so it is in the table but not ranked among the 50 states.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: revenue by source and fall membership.

Most federal: the top ten

Federal share of district revenue, highest ten statesMississippi 22.7%; Arkansas 19.7%; Kentucky 19.6%; North Carolina 19.6%; Montana 19.4%; South Dakota 19.3%; Louisiana 19.1%; Tennessee 19.0%; Oklahoma 18.7%; Alaska 18.5%; U.S. 14.1%.0102030Mississippi22.7%Arkansas19.7%Kentucky19.6%North Carolina19.6%Montana19.4%South Dakota19.3%Louisiana19.1%Tennessee19.0%Oklahoma18.7%Alaska18.5%U.S. 14.1%
Federal share of district revenue, highest ten statesMississippi 22.7%; Arkansas 19.7%; Kentucky 19.6%; North Carolina 19.6%; Montana 19.4%; South Dakota 19.3%; Louisiana 19.1%; Tennessee 19.0%; Oklahoma 18.7%; Alaska 18.5%; U.S. 14.1%.0102030Mississippi22.7%Arkansas19.7%Kentucky19.6%North Carolina19.6%Montana19.4%South Dakota19.3%Louisiana19.1%Tennessee19.0%Oklahoma18.7%Alaska18.5%U.S. 14.1%
Federal share of district revenue, highest ten statesMississippi 22.7%; Arkansas 19.7%; Kentucky 19.6%; North Carolina 19.6%; Montana 19.4%; South Dakota 19.3%; Louisiana 19.1%; Tennessee 19.0%; Oklahoma 18.7%; Alaska 18.5%; U.S. 14.1%.0102030Mississippi22.7%Arkansas19.7%Kentucky19.6%North Carolina19.6%Montana19.4%South Dakota19.3%Louisiana19.1%Tennessee19.0%Oklahoma18.7%Alaska18.5%U.S. 14.1%
Federal share of district revenue, highest ten statesMississippi 22.7%; Arkansas 19.7%; Kentucky 19.6%; North Carolina 19.6%; Montana 19.4%; South Dakota 19.3%; Louisiana 19.1%; Tennessee 19.0%; Oklahoma 18.7%; Alaska 18.5%; U.S. 14.1%.0102030Mississippi22.7%Arkansas19.7%Kentucky19.6%North Carolina19.6%Montana19.4%South Dakota19.3%Louisiana19.1%Tennessee19.0%Oklahoma18.7%Alaska18.5%U.S. 14.1%

Least federal: the bottom ten

Federal share of district revenue, lowest ten statesVermont 6.7%; New Jersey 7.4%; Connecticut 8.7%; New Hampshire 8.9%; Kansas 9.1%; Massachusetts 9.7%; Maine 10.0%; Colorado 10.3%; Pennsylvania 10.5%; Illinois 10.7%; U.S. 14.1%.051015Vermont6.7%New Jersey7.4%Connecticut8.7%New Hampshire8.9%Kansas9.1%Massachusetts9.7%Maine10.0%Colorado10.3%Pennsylvania10.5%Illinois10.7%U.S. 14.1%
Federal share of district revenue, lowest ten statesVermont 6.7%; New Jersey 7.4%; Connecticut 8.7%; New Hampshire 8.9%; Kansas 9.1%; Massachusetts 9.7%; Maine 10.0%; Colorado 10.3%; Pennsylvania 10.5%; Illinois 10.7%; U.S. 14.1%.051015Vermont6.7%New Jersey7.4%Connecticut8.7%New Hampshire8.9%Kansas9.1%Massachusetts9.7%Maine10.0%Colorado10.3%Pennsylvania10.5%Illinois10.7%U.S. 14.1%
Federal share of district revenue, lowest ten statesVermont 6.7%; New Jersey 7.4%; Connecticut 8.7%; New Hampshire 8.9%; Kansas 9.1%; Massachusetts 9.7%; Maine 10.0%; Colorado 10.3%; Pennsylvania 10.5%; Illinois 10.7%; U.S. 14.1%.051015Vermont6.7%New Jersey7.4%Connecticut8.7%New Hampshire8.9%Kansas9.1%Massachusetts9.7%Maine10.0%Colorado10.3%Pennsylvania10.5%Illinois10.7%U.S. 14.1%
Federal share of district revenue, lowest ten statesVermont 6.7%; New Jersey 7.4%; Connecticut 8.7%; New Hampshire 8.9%; Kansas 9.1%; Massachusetts 9.7%; Maine 10.0%; Colorado 10.3%; Pennsylvania 10.5%; Illinois 10.7%; U.S. 14.1%.051015Vermont6.7%New Jersey7.4%Connecticut8.7%New Hampshire8.9%Kansas9.1%Massachusetts9.7%Maine10.0%Colorado10.3%Pennsylvania10.5%Illinois10.7%U.S. 14.1%

The question and the method

Public school districts draw revenue from local, state, and federal sources, and how much they rely on Washington varies sharply by state. Across the 51 state systems with enough reporting students, what share of district revenue is federal?

Each district's federal revenue share from the F-33 survey for fiscal year 2022-23, averaged over the state's districts weighted by fall 2022 membership; states need 20,000 students.

Limits. A high federal share is not a judgment on a state's own effort: it commonly reflects more Title I-eligible, low-income or rural students, whose federal formula funding is need-based by design. A low share often reflects a larger local tax base. Fiscal year 2022-23 still includes pandemic relief (ESSER) funds, which raised federal shares everywhere.

Every state

All 51 as a table
StateRankFederal share of district revenueDistricts
Mississippi122.7%146
Arkansas219.7%255
Kentucky319.6%171
North Carolina419.6%308
Montana519.4%394
South Dakota619.3%149
Louisiana719.1%189
Tennessee819.0%142
Oklahoma918.7%540
Alaska1018.5%54
West Virginia1118.3%57
Arizona1218.1%626
Idaho1318.1%176
Florida1417.8%66
Alabama1517.2%147
Texas1617.2%1,200
New Mexico1717.0%143
Nevada1816.0%18
North Dakota1915.9%168
Georgia2015.6%220
Missouri2115.1%553
South Carolina2214.9%74
Hawaii2314.5%1
Ohio2414.1%979
Michigan2513.2%878
District of Columbianot ranked13.1%63
Delaware2612.9%42
Wyoming2712.8%48
Utah2812.5%155
California2912.2%1,903
Indiana3012.2%404
Virginia3112.1%131
Washington3212.0%317
Nebraska3311.7%246
Rhode Island3411.6%62
Maryland3511.5%24
Iowa3611.4%327
New York3711.4%684
Minnesota3811.3%537
Wisconsin3910.9%421
Oregon4010.8%199
Illinois4110.7%848
Pennsylvania4210.5%759
Colorado4310.3%184
Maine4410.0%219
Massachusetts459.7%396
Kansas469.1%288
New Hampshire478.9%162
Connecticut488.7%198
New Jersey497.4%667
Vermont506.7%83

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: revenue by source and fall membership.

Related research

  1. 01Per-pupil spending by state

    F-33 2022-23

  2. 02School funding explained

    Local, state and federal money

  3. 03All research

    Every study

Sources

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District revenue by source · FY 2022-23

Compiled from official source data by .