Track Every Dollar · Ohio

Columbus City 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 $261 million20.9%
  • All other federal money$162 million62.0%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$44.5 million17.0%
  • School meals$29.1 million11.1%
  • Special education (IDEA)$18.0 million6.9%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$5.0 million1.9%
  • Career and technical education$2.5 million1.0%

Inside the federal total: $75.3 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $227 million18.2%
  • General formula aid$167 million73.7%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$44.6 million19.6%
  • All other state money$15.1 million6.6%
Local $759 million60.9%
  • Property taxes$696 million91.7%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$46.4 million6.1%
  • From other school districts$7.3 million1.0%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$5.2 million0.7%
  • From cities and counties$3.9 million0.5%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$475 million41.7%
  • Support services Details$511 million44.9%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$117 million22.9%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$92.8 million18.2%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$85.3 million16.7%
    • Business office and central services$77.4 million15.2%
    • Student transportation$69.8 million13.7%
    • School administration: principals' offices$54.3 million10.6%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$14.2 million2.8%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$85.0 million7.5%

    Of this, construction: $65.5 million.

  • Food service and other$29.4 million2.6%
  • Interest on debt$15.0 million1.3%
  • Community services and adult education$11.1 million1.0%
  • Payments to state and local governments$5.7 million0.5%
  • Payments to other school districts$7.3 million0.6%

Inside these totals: $596 million in salaries and wages, $237 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $322 million.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (45,181). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 118091, NCES ID 3904380.

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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