Track Every Dollar · California

Bakersfield Elementary School District

Every dollar this school system reported for the 2023-24 school year: where it came from and where it went.

Where the money comes from

Select federal, state or local to see every line.

Federal $116 million16.7%
  • All other federal money$50.2 million43.1%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$28.3 million24.3%
  • School meals$26.3 million22.6%
  • Special education (IDEA)$7.5 million6.4%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$1.7 million1.4%
  • English learners (Title III)$1.2 million1.1%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$1.2 million1.0%

Inside the federal total: $50.2 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $521 million74.6%
  • General formula aid$398 million76.3%
  • All other state money$59.3 million11.4%
  • Special education$29.9 million5.7%
  • Paid by the state for the district (benefits and other costs)$17.4 million3.3%
  • Staff improvement$7.8 million1.5%
  • School meals$5.2 million1.0%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$3.5 million0.7%
  • Buildings and debt payments$320,000under 0.1%
Local $61.3 million8.8%
  • Property taxes$32.5 million53.0%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$24.8 million40.5%
  • From cities and counties$3.3 million5.4%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$665,0001.1%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$371 million57.9%
  • Support services Details$201 million31.3%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$50.7 million25.3%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$37.3 million18.6%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$32.3 million16.1%
    • School administration: principals' offices$31.3 million15.6%
    • Business office and central services$18.4 million9.2%
    • Student transportation$17.6 million8.8%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$8.9 million4.4%
    • Other support services and benefits paid by the state$4.1 million2.1%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$30.8 million4.8%

    Of this, construction: $28.6 million.

  • Food service and other$26.9 million4.2%
  • Interest on debt$4.2 million0.7%
  • Community services and adult education$6.3 million1.0%
  • Payments to state and local governments$7,000under 0.1%
  • Payments to other school districts$897,0000.1%

Inside these totals: $317 million in salaries and wages, $144 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $141 million.

Lottery money, 2025-26 school year

  • General lottery money$5.4 million
  • Instructional materials (Proposition 20)$2.6 million
  • Total paid$8.0 million

Paid per student in average daily attendance (27,720).

Source: California State Controller's Office, Lottery Education Apportionment Master Register, fiscal year 2025-26, year to date. sco.ca.gov the payment register

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (28,761). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 213281, NCES ID 0603630.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finances: Fiscal Year 2024. School year 2023-24. census.gov the data file

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