Education

Oklahoma public school revenue hits $13,736 per student

January 8, 2025

Ray Carter

According to financial data reported by schools to the state’s Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS), per-pupil revenue in Oklahoma public schools reached $13,736 per student in the 2023-2024 school year.

That’s an increase of 51 percent since the 2017-2018 school year. And the per-pupil revenue is even greater if school savings and other similar accounts are included.

State Rep. Chad Caldwell, an Enid Republican who chairs the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee and vice-chairs the House Education Oversight Committee, said the revenue figure highlights the commitment lawmakers have made to education in recent years.

But he also noted that officials must now work to make certain those dollars generate the maximum benefit for each taxpayer dollar.

“Oklahomans are making record investments in education, with funding levels reaching historic highs this year,” Caldwell said. “However, it’s becoming increasingly evident that simply increasing the amount of money spent is not the solution we’ve been promised. If we fail to address the underlying inefficiencies in how these resources are allocated and utilized, we will continue to see the same disappointing results, just at a higher cost.”

According to the latest OCAS report, Oklahoma public schools reported receiving $9,600,703,488 in new revenue in the 2023-2024 school year. OCAS accounts for school revenue from both the state and federal government, as well as local property taxes.

Since student enrollment was 698,923 in the 2023-2024 school year, that comes out to an average of $13,736 per pupil.

And that figure does not account for $4,009,609,622 in school savings and similar accounts, including cash forward, prior years’ lapsed appropriations, estopped warrants, and inter-fund transfers.

Once the $4 billion from those sources is included, Oklahoma public schools reported having total available revenue of $13,610,313,110 during the 2023-2024 school year, which averages $19,473 per student.

Those per-pupil averages are a dramatic increase since the 2017-2018 school year when state public schools reported having $6,300,400,107 in new revenue and $8,711,584,941 in total revenue. Given that statewide enrollment was 694,816 at that time, that comes out to $9,067 per student in new revenue that year and $12,537 per pupil in total revenue.

Even if officials exclude savings from the calculation, per-pupil revenue in Oklahoma public schools has now surged 51 percent since the 2017-2018 school year.

Academic Outcomes Have Not Increased

However, academic outcomes have not increased in tandem with the dramatic increase in per-pupil revenue.

In 2024, Oklahoma high-school graduates had an average ACT composite score of 17.6 (out of a possible 36). In comparison, Oklahoma students had an average composite score of 19.3 in 2018. The same percentage of Oklahoma graduates (100 percent) took the test both years.

That’s why Caldwell said the discussion on education cannot be solely about the amount spent but must also focus on how additional funding will boost students’ academic achievement.

“While funding is a critical part of the conversation, it’s equally important to focus on how and where that money is being spent,” Caldwell said. “We must ensure that every dollar invested is driving meaningful improvements in educational outcomes. This requires a renewed commitment to accountability, efficiency, and ensuring that our investments directly benefit students, teachers, and families.”

Notably, the per-pupil revenue available in Oklahoma public schools significantly exceeds the average private school tuition not only in Oklahoma, but nationwide.

According to Private School Review, the average private school tuition in Oklahoma is $8,145 per year 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.

The survey included 25 private high schools and 42 private elementary schools.

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. On a state-by-state basis, Oklahoma’s per-pupil revenue for public schools exceeds the average private-school tuition in 37 states, based on Private School Review’s data.

The challenge for lawmakers is to now transform the massive increase in public-school funding into a comparable boost in student outcomes.

“As policymakers, it is our duty to transform the education system—not just through increased spending, but by making strategic, data-driven decisions that lead to real, measurable change,” Caldwell said. “Oklahoma’s children deserve more than just a promise of funding; they deserve the tools, support, and opportunities to succeed in an ever-changing world.”