Track Every Dollar · District of Columbia

District of Columbia Public Schools

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 $267 million13.9%
  • All other federal money$153 million57.1%
  • School meals$31.5 million11.8%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$30.9 million11.6%
  • Impact Aid$22.7 million8.5%
  • Special education (IDEA)$12.6 million4.7%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$4.9 million1.9%
  • After-school programs (21st Century)$4.3 million1.6%
  • Career and technical education$4.2 million1.6%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$2.5 million0.9%
  • English learners (Title III)$953,0000.4%

Inside the federal total: $137 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State None reported0.0%
    Local $1.7 billion86.1%
    • From the parent city or county government$1.6 billion99.2%
    • Interest, rents, donations and other$13.1 million0.8%
    • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$627,000under 0.1%

    Where it goes

    • Teaching (instruction)$855 million42.9%
    • Support services Details$748 million37.5%
      • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$173 million23.1%
      • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$156 million20.8%
      • School administration: principals' offices$121 million16.1%
      • Running and maintaining buildings$90.1 million12.0%
      • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$77.3 million10.3%
      • Student transportation$74.4 million9.9%
      • Business office and central services$56.4 million7.5%
    • Buildings and equipment Details$314 million15.7%

      Of this, construction: $281 million.

    • Food service and other$53.9 million2.7%
    • Community services and adult education$22.1 million1.1%

    Inside these totals: $1.1 billion in salaries and wages, $194 million in employee benefits.

    The record

    Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (50,839). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 101868, NCES ID 1100030.

    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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