Track Every Dollar · North Carolina

Buncombe 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 $58.4 million16.4%
  • All other federal money$24.2 million41.5%
  • School meals$16.0 million27.4%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$8.7 million14.9%
  • Special education (IDEA)$6.8 million11.7%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$1.1 million2.0%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$675,0001.2%
  • Career and technical education$475,0000.8%
  • English learners (Title III)$345,0000.6%

Inside the federal total: $20.6 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $172 million48.3%
  • General formula aid$170 million98.7%
  • Buildings and debt payments$1.9 million1.1%
  • All other state money$314,0000.2%
Local $126 million35.4%
  • From the parent city or county government$115 million91.3%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$9.0 million7.2%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$1.9 million1.5%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$186 million52.9%
  • Support services Details$103 million29.3%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$27.5 million26.7%
    • School administration: principals' offices$19.7 million19.2%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$19.2 million18.6%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$13.1 million12.7%
    • Student transportation$11.9 million11.5%
    • Business office and central services$8.2 million8.0%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$3.4 million3.3%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$36.1 million10.2%

    Of this, construction: $30.7 million.

  • Food service and other$17.5 million5.0%
  • Interest on debt$6.0 million1.7%
  • Community services and adult education$585,0000.2%
  • Payments to other school districts$2.7 million0.8%

Inside these totals: $186 million in salaries and wages, $79.1 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $201 million.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (22,172). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 207459, NCES ID 3700450.

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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