Track Every Dollar · Maryland

Howard County 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 $60.0 million4.6%
  • All other federal money$21.3 million35.5%
  • Special education (IDEA)$12.9 million21.6%
  • School meals$12.2 million20.4%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$7.8 million13.1%
  • English learners (Title III)$3.5 million5.9%
  • After-school programs (21st Century)$1.2 million2.0%
  • Career and technical education$553,0000.9%
  • Impact Aid$368,0000.6%

Inside the federal total: $13.0 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $397 million30.3%
  • General formula aid$217 million54.7%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$50.1 million12.6%
  • Special education$32.6 million8.2%
  • Paid by the state for the district (benefits and other costs)$28.6 million7.2%
  • All other state money$24.6 million6.2%
  • Transportation$23.9 million6.0%
  • Bilingual education$15.0 million3.8%
  • Buildings and debt payments$3.8 million1.0%
  • School meals$1.1 million0.3%
Local $854 million65.1%
  • From the parent city or county government$818 million95.9%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$18.6 million2.2%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$16.5 million1.9%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$767 million60.6%
  • Support services Details$380 million30.0%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$94.5 million24.9%
    • School administration: principals' offices$76.1 million20.0%
    • Student transportation$69.8 million18.4%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$66.0 million17.4%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$45.8 million12.1%
    • Business office and central services$15.4 million4.1%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$6.4 million1.7%
    • Other support services and benefits paid by the state$5.8 million1.5%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$43.7 million3.5%

    Of this, construction: $36.5 million.

  • Food service and other$23.3 million1.8%
  • Interest on debt$16.5 million1.3%
  • Community services and adult education$5.0 million0.4%
  • Payments to other school districts$30.9 million2.4%

Inside these totals: $736 million in salaries and wages, $221 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $593 million.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (57,633). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 212952, NCES ID 2400420.

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

Every school system in Maryland · Maryland: every school dollar · Report an error