Measure Your Education Spending IQ

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Measure Your Education Spending IQ - Quiz

Many people believe we are not spending enough money on education. Others believe that cuts to education have harmed our schools. What's rarely talked about is the actual numbers. This short quiz will measure how much you know about education spending so you can make an informed decision about government spending on education.
Be sure and click the "View Answer" link after each question to get an explanation of the correct answer and links to additional information.
NOTE: Per student spending numbers are for California K-12 public schools.

Questions and Answers

1.

According to the US Department of Education, total spending on K-12 education over the last 20 years has:
- A.
  
  Decreased every year.
- B.
  
  Decreased most years.
- C.
  
  Stayed the same.
- D.
  
  Increased most years.
- E.
  
  Increased every year.
Correct Answer
E. Increased every year.

Explanation
Education spending has increased every year with spending from local, state and federal government all rising. See graph of education spending.
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2.

Since the 1970s, per pupil spending (adjusted for inflation) on government schools (K-12) has:
- A.
  
  Gone down by nearly half.
- B.
  
  Stayed about the same.
- C.
  
  Gone up by 50%
- D.
  
  More than doubled.
Correct Answer
D. More than doubled.

Explanation
The US population has grown substantially the last 40 year, but education spending by local, state and federal authorities has grown much faster making per student costs grow. Today the US spends more than twice as much per student as what was spent 40 years ago and this after taking into consideration inflation.

See graph of per-pupil K-12 spending since 1970.

Data from US Department of Education and National Center for Education Statistics.
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3.

Per student spending for a K-12 student attending a California public school is:
- A.
  
  $7,500
- B.
  
  $9,500
- C.
  
  $12,500
- D.
  
  $15,000
- E.
  
  $19,000
Correct Answer
E. $19,000

Explanation
To properly account for all monies spent all education costs have to be included in the analysis. Most numbers quoted by the schools themselves exclude major expenses. Those expenses include capital costs (paying for buildings), employee benefits (pensions and healthcare) and debt servicing (interest). When these are included the per student spending jumps considerably. It should be noted that public corporation are required to disclose these costs in their public number or risk criminal charges and jail time.

Watch this video for additional explanation.
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4.

Comparing the cost of taxpayer funded K-12 public schools versus private schools which of the following is accurate:
- A.
  
  Public schools are 50% cheaper than private schools.
- B.
  
  Public schools are about the same price as private schools.
- C.
  
  Public schools are 50% more expensive than private schools.
- D.
  
  Public schools are more than twice as expensive as private schools.
Correct Answer
D. Public schools are more than twice as expensive as private schools.

Explanation
According to the NCES, the median private school cost is $8,378 compared to $19,000 for public schools. The priciest private schools can be $25,000 per year, but the median price is well under $10,000 which is substantially less than the government spends per student. To put this another way, taxpayers could pay for every child to attend a private school and cut their education expense in half.
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5.

Compared to other modern countries (Austria, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Japan, UK, etc) US per pupil spending for K-12 education is:
- A.
  
  Last.
- B.
  
  Only 2 countries are lower
- C.
  
  In the middle.
- D.
  
  Only 2 countries are higher.
- E.
  
  First.
Correct Answer
D. Only 2 countries are higher.

Explanation
Contrary to popular belief, the US spends more per student than all but 2 modern countries (Switzerland and Norway). If one were to use the true per student spending than the US would jump to the highest spending nation.
View country comparison of education spending.
Data from US Department of Education.
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6.

Increasing school spending has the following impact on standardized tests, graduation rates, and disparity between white and other races:
- A.
  
  Greatly improves student performance.
- B.
  
  Modestly improves student performance.
- C.
  
  Had no effect on student performance.
- D.
  
  Mildly lowers student performance.
- E.
  
  Dramatically lowers student performance.
Correct Answer
C. Had no effect on student performance.

Explanation
Looking at the data over the last 40 years demonstrates there is no correlation between increased school spending and improved academic performance. To put this more bluntly, even though per student spending has more than doubled over the last 40 years there has been no improvement in graduation rates, reading and math scores, or disparities between white and other races.

Here's a chart looking at reading scores from NAEP.

For more information read Does Spending More on Education Improve Academic Achievement.
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Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

Current Version
Mar 18, 2022

Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team
May 07, 2010

Quiz Created by
Mp3michael

Measure Your Education Spending IQ

According to the US Department of Education, total spending on K-12 education over the last 20 years has:

Since the 1970s, per pupil spending (adjusted for inflation) on government schools (K-12) has:

Per student spending for a K-12 student attending a California public school is:

Comparing the cost of taxpayer funded K-12 public schools versus private schools which of the following is accurate:

Compared to other modern countries (Austria, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Japan, UK, etc) US per pupil spending for K-12 education is:

Increasing school spending has the following impact on standardized tests, graduation rates, and disparity between white and other races: