Track Every Dollar · Pennsylvania

Lower Merion 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 $3.8 million1.2%
  • All other federal money$1.7 million44.3%
  • School meals$1.4 million38.5%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$396,00010.5%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$170,0004.5%
  • English learners (Title III)$58,0001.5%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$22,0000.6%

Inside the federal total: $618,000 of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $48.4 million14.9%
  • Staff improvement$30.7 million63.4%
  • General formula aid$5.7 million11.8%
  • All other state money$5.4 million11.1%
  • Special education$3.5 million7.2%
  • Transportation$1.8 million3.7%
  • School meals$666,0001.4%
  • Buildings and debt payments$374,0000.8%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$277,0000.6%
Local $271 million83.9%
  • Property taxes$250 million92.2%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$10.3 million3.8%
  • Other local taxes (sales, utility, income)$5.8 million2.1%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$3.2 million1.2%
  • From other school districts$1.9 million0.7%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$183 million59.5%
  • Support services Details$98.7 million32.0%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$28.6 million29.0%
    • Student transportation$18.2 million18.4%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$15.0 million15.2%
    • School administration: principals' offices$14.3 million14.4%
    • Business office and central services$11.3 million11.5%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$7.4 million7.5%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$3.9 million3.9%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$6.5 million2.1%

    Of this, construction: $5.4 million.

  • Food service and other$4.8 million1.5%
  • Interest on debt$7.5 million2.4%
  • Community services and adult education$3.0 million1.0%
  • Payments to other school districts$4.4 million1.4%

Inside these totals: $149 million in salaries and wages, $93.3 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $174 million.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (8,518). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 182650, NCES ID 4214160.

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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