When Oklahoma’s spending on public schools is adjusted for cost-of-living differences, the state spends the national equivalent of more than $15,000 per student, according to a recent report by the Kansas Policy Institute.

That’s a far higher level than what many Oklahomans realize is occurring.

This month, a rolling 12-month online poll sponsored by EdChoice and developed in cooperation with Morning Consult found that 67 percent of Oklahomans responded that state school spending was “too low” when asked the question without being provided specific information on per-pupil funding. 

But when those polled were told Oklahoma provides $7,940 per student, just 40 percent of adults said funding was too low—even though that per-pupil figure that is far lower than the actual per-pupil revenue in the state, which totals at least $13,736 without adjusting for cost-of-living differences, or $14,066 based on average daily attendance according to a recent report from the National Education Association.

Oklahoma public schools’ average per-pupil revenue is now 46 percent greater than the average private high-school tuition in Oklahoma. According to Private School Review, the average private-school tuition in Oklahoma is $8,145 for the 2024-2025 school year. The review found that Oklahoma private elementary schools’ average tuition cost is $8,320 annually while the private high school average is $9,403 per year.

And Oklahoma public schools’ per-pupil funding of $13,736 per student is also greater than the national average private school tuition, based on data compiled by Private School Review.

No Correlation Between Spending and Results

Still, other states spend more, sometimes much more, per student. But the Kansas Policy Institute found no correlation between higher spending and better outcomes.

When Dave Trabert, chief executive officer of the Kansas Policy Institute, adjusted states’ per-pupil spending for cost-of-living differences between states, he found that Oklahoma schools had $15,316 in per-pupil buying power in 2022, based on national data.

While many other states spend more, those higher funding levels don’t automatically translate into better academic outcomes.

The report notes that Oklahoma had a 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) composite score of 242. The composite score represents a state’s score on the eight main measurements on NAEP tests (4th-grade and 8th-grade reading and math for low-income students and 4th-grade and 8th-grade reading and math tests for all other students).

Notably, Oklahoma’s academic results have declined significantly in recent years even as funding has surged dramatically. As per-pupil revenue has increased by more than 51 percent since the 2017-2018 school year, Oklahoma’s academic outcomes have declined steadily and remain among the bottom tier of states.

But the Kansas Policy Institute report shows things could be even worse. Other states have spent significantly higher amounts than Oklahoma to produce worse results than Oklahoma.

For example, the institute report found that Maryland spent a cost-of-living-adjusted $18,591 per student yet achieved a lower-than-Oklahoma NAEP composite score of 241.

Alaska spent the equivalent of $18,146 per student but had a NAEP composite score of 234.

Maine spent $18,687 per student to produce a NAEP composite score of 240.

Oregon spent $19,432 to achieve a NAEP composite score of 236.

New Mexico spent $19,400 and had a NAEP composite score of 232.

Delaware spent a cost-of-living-adjusted $23,173 per student but had a NAEP composite score of 234.

Neighboring Kansas spent more than Oklahoma in cost-of-living adjusted terms and achieved a higher composite NAEP score, but just barely.

Kansas spent $20,038 per student and had a NAEP composite score of 243—only one point higher than Oklahoma.

“Once again, the data disproves the education lobby’s claim that spending more money is the key to achieving better outcomes,” Trabert wrote. “For example, 27 states have the same or better NAEP composite as Kansas but spend less per student.”

Overall, Trabert noted, Kansas’ NAEP proficiency rankings ranged from 29th to 44th, and the state’s ACT demographic scores are in the mid-30s.