Track Every Dollar · California

Downey Unified 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 $56.6 million10.3%
  • All other federal money$30.5 million53.9%
  • School meals$12.9 million22.8%
  • Special education (IDEA)$6.3 million11.1%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$4.8 million8.5%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$659,0001.2%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$649,0001.1%
  • Career and technical education$465,0000.8%
  • English learners (Title III)$345,0000.6%

Inside the federal total: $28.3 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $368 million66.9%
  • General formula aid$246 million66.9%
  • All other state money$51.0 million13.9%
  • Special education$21.7 million5.9%
  • Paid by the state for the district (benefits and other costs)$17.8 million4.8%
  • Buildings and debt payments$15.7 million4.3%
  • School meals$8.8 million2.4%
  • Career and technical education$4.1 million1.1%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$2.5 million0.7%
Local $126 million22.8%
  • Property taxes$73.1 million58.2%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$29.6 million23.6%
  • From other school districts$14.9 million11.8%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$5.4 million4.3%
  • From cities and counties$2.6 million2.1%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$284 million55.9%
  • Support services Details$132 million26.0%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$33.5 million25.3%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$29.4 million22.2%
    • School administration: principals' offices$26.4 million20.0%
    • Business office and central services$14.8 million11.2%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$13.8 million10.4%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$6.6 million5.0%
    • Other support services and benefits paid by the state$4.1 million3.1%
    • Student transportation$3.8 million2.9%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$28.5 million5.6%

    Of this, construction: $18.3 million.

  • Food service and other$20.9 million4.1%
  • Interest on debt$12.2 million2.4%
  • Community services and adult education$9.5 million1.9%
  • Payments to other school districts$20.8 million4.1%

Inside these totals: $237 million in salaries and wages, $102 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $354 million.

Lottery money, 2025-26 school year

  • General lottery money$4.4 million
  • Instructional materials (Proposition 20)$2.1 million
  • Total paid$6.5 million

Paid per student in average daily attendance (22,005).

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 (22,421). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 178231, NCES ID 0611460.

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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