Track Every Dollar · Michigan

Detroit Public Schools Community 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 $220 million15.9%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$120 million54.6%
  • School meals$42.3 million19.2%
  • All other federal money$32.5 million14.7%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$9.6 million4.4%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$9.3 million4.2%
  • Career and technical education$4.1 million1.9%
  • Special education (IDEA)$2.2 million1.0%

Inside the federal total: $16.6 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $731 million52.6%
  • General formula aid$480 million65.7%
  • All other state money$157 million21.5%
  • Special education$56.6 million7.7%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$31.3 million4.3%
  • Bilingual education$3.2 million0.4%
  • School meals$1.8 million0.3%
  • Career and technical education$525,000under 0.1%
Local $439 million31.6%
  • From other school districts$319 million72.7%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$90.8 million20.7%
  • Property taxes$19.7 million4.5%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$9.2 million2.1%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$508 million45.9%
  • Support services Details$479 million43.3%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$131 million27.4%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$109 million22.8%
    • Business office and central services$67.1 million14.0%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$61.3 million12.8%
    • School administration: principals' offices$53.2 million11.1%
    • Student transportation$40.8 million8.5%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$16.2 million3.4%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$63.5 million5.7%

    Of this, construction: $42.8 million.

  • Food service and other$46.6 million4.2%
  • Community services and adult education$9.7 million0.9%

Inside these totals: $463 million in salaries and wages, $293 million in employee benefits.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (48,271). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 248502, NCES ID 2601103.

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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