Track Every Dollar · California

Los Angeles 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 $2.6 billion18.1%
  • All other federal money$1.5 billion60.0%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$394 million15.3%
  • School meals$362 million14.1%
  • Special education (IDEA)$166 million6.5%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$34.0 million1.3%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$29.0 million1.1%
  • English learners (Title III)$18.8 million0.7%
  • After-school programs (21st Century)$15.2 million0.6%
  • Career and technical education$7.5 million0.3%
  • Indian, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native education$53,000under 0.1%

Inside the federal total: $1.0 billion of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $7.5 billion52.4%
  • General formula aid$5.0 billion66.7%
  • All other state money$1.4 billion18.9%
  • Special education$459 million6.1%
  • Paid by the state for the district (benefits and other costs)$300 million4.0%
  • School meals$131 million1.7%
  • Buildings and debt payments$82.4 million1.1%
  • Staff improvement$47.0 million0.6%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$44.8 million0.6%
  • Career and technical education$10.5 million0.1%
Local $4.2 billion29.5%
  • Property taxes$3.2 billion75.4%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$787 million18.7%
  • From cities and counties$202 million4.8%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$44.3 million1.1%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$5.8 billion44.9%
  • Support services Details$4.5 billion35.4%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$1.0 billion22.9%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$905 million19.9%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$808 million17.8%
    • School administration: principals' offices$724 million16.0%
    • Business office and central services$440 million9.7%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$314 million6.9%
    • Student transportation$214 million4.7%
    • Other support services and benefits paid by the state$96.4 million2.1%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$1.4 billion10.5%

    Of this, construction: $1.3 billion.

  • Food service and other$462 million3.6%
  • Interest on debt$540 million4.2%
  • Community services and adult education$169 million1.3%
  • Payments to state and local governments$140,000under 0.1%
  • Payments to other school districts$8.6 millionunder 0.1%

Inside these totals: $5.6 billion in salaries and wages, $2.8 billion in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $12.2 billion.

Lottery money, 2025-26 school year

  • General lottery money$67.2 million
  • Instructional materials (Proposition 20)$32.6 million
  • Total paid$99.8 million

Paid per student in average daily attendance (351,405).

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 (419,929). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 101250, NCES ID 0622710.

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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