Total spending by public school districts, divided by total pupils.
Higher spending for schools can mean better facilities, programs, and a greater range of opportunities available to students. It may also signal public support for education and a better paid, more experienced teaching workforce. However, studies have found higher spending does not necessarily lead to higher student achievement, given many other factors that contribute to student success, including socioeconomic and parental influences.
In 2017, Berks County school districts spent about $16,500 per student, about 10% less than the statewide level of $17,400. The county rate represented a 46% increase since 2001, compared to a 47% increase at the statewide level.
Spending in 2017 was highest in the Kutztown Area School District, at $37,000 per student, up 189% from 2001, followed by the Daniel Boone district, at $25,500. Per-student spending was lowest in the Reading district, at $12,500.
Among surrounding counties, 2017 per-student spending was higher than Berks in Montgomery ($20,600) and Chester ($18,100). Lancaster was similar to Berks and Lehigh and Lebanon spent less, at $15,800 and $14,500 respectively per student. Since 2001, per-student spending increased more than Berks in only Lancaster (49%). Montgomery, Lebanon and Lehigh were slightly lower than Berks, and Chester was even lower, at 33%.
Figures are from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and have been adjusted to 2016 dollars. Per pupil expenditures are calculated by dividing a district's operating costs by its average enrollment across the school year.
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| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $12,073 | $12,496 | $12,792 | $13,344 | $13,618 | $13,965 | $14,246 | $14,486 | $15,019 | $15,390 | $15,446 | $15,063 | $15,385 | $15,551 | $16,397 | $16,775 | $17,736 |
| Berks County | $11,485 | $11,574 | $11,685 | $12,019 | $12,436 | $12,747 | $13,412 | $13,466 | $14,286 | $14,889 | $14,561 | $14,675 | $15,159 | $14,787 | $16,384 | $15,834 | $16,818 |
| Berks County Regions | |||||||||||||||||
| Central | |||||||||||||||||
| Northeast | |||||||||||||||||
| South | |||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | |||||||||||||||||
| West | |||||||||||||||||
| Reading city | |||||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | |||||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $13,874 | $14,365 | $14,774 | $15,643 | $15,926 | $16,160 | $16,803 | $16,620 | $17,132 | $17,213 | $16,821 | $16,595 | $16,802 | $16,747 | $17,385 | $18,258 | $18,472 |
| Lancaster County | $11,131 | $11,282 | $11,660 | $11,988 | $12,077 | $12,343 | $13,178 | $13,618 | $14,305 | $14,402 | $14,265 | $14,105 | $14,477 | $14,827 | $15,624 | $15,863 | $16,582 |
| Lebanon County | $10,596 | $11,071 | $10,932 | $11,119 | $11,346 | $11,694 | $12,448 | $13,043 | $13,393 | $13,907 | $13,119 | $13,018 | $13,553 | $13,706 | $13,651 | $14,277 | $14,807 |
| Lehigh County | $11,517 | $11,726 | $11,838 | $12,219 | $12,611 | $12,770 | $13,037 | $13,241 | $14,045 | $14,121 | $14,403 | $14,340 | $14,381 | $14,809 | $15,159 | $15,936 | $16,171 |
| Montgomery County | $14,872 | $15,332 | $15,814 | $16,574 | $16,854 | $17,522 | $17,800 | $18,123 | $18,673 | $18,936 | $18,708 | $18,547 | $18,746 | $19,150 | $20,065 | $20,225 | $21,023 |
| Schuylkill County | $11,048 | $11,706 | $13,224 | $12,153 | $13,680 | $12,964 | $12,408 | $12,618 | $13,644 | $14,693 | $13,519 | $14,893 | $13,577 | $14,698 | $16,987 | $16,459 | $15,391 |
| School Districts | |||||||||||||||||
| Wyomissing Area School District | $13,077 | $13,922 | $13,849 | $14,464 | $14,837 | $15,048 | $16,499 | $16,752 | $17,044 | $17,725 | $16,782 | $16,311 | $16,245 | $16,153 | $17,195 | $16,745 | $17,674 |
| Wilson School District | $11,517 | $12,325 | $12,658 | $13,294 | $14,000 | $14,423 | $14,774 | $14,781 | $15,499 | $16,148 | $15,859 | $15,388 | $14,981 | $15,745 | $16,342 | $16,350 | $16,410 |
| Twin Valley School District | $12,543 | $13,522 | $13,332 | $13,398 | $13,180 | $13,866 | $14,116 | $14,735 | $15,571 | $15,216 | $14,692 | $14,565 | $14,372 | $14,929 | $16,239 | $16,607 | $18,444 |
| Tulpehocken Area School District | $11,948 | $13,082 | $13,594 | $13,184 | $13,483 | $14,463 | $15,670 | $17,234 | $17,596 | $18,209 | $18,079 | $18,207 | $23,246 | $29,923 | $20,725 | $20,590 | $20,497 |
| Schuylkill Valley School District | $14,436 | $13,892 | $13,993 | $14,678 | $14,607 | $14,737 | $15,905 | $16,211 | $17,425 | $16,710 | $17,020 | $17,071 | $17,488 | $17,228 | $29,700 | $18,448 | $17,777 |
| Reading School District | $9,947 | $9,343 | $9,522 | $9,774 | $10,266 | $10,272 | $10,709 | $10,899 | $12,249 | $13,721 | $13,686 | $12,894 | $11,930 | $11,514 | $12,192 | $12,123 | $12,794 |
| Kutztown Area School District | $13,070 | $14,196 | $13,927 | $14,225 | $14,935 | $15,688 | $16,380 | $16,762 | $17,991 | $18,990 | $19,151 | $19,486 | $24,417 | $21,495 | $29,222 | $22,861 | $37,825 |
| Oley Valley School District | $10,979 | $11,467 | $12,076 | $12,822 | $13,883 | $13,604 | $15,275 | $15,192 | $15,514 | $15,735 | $15,455 | $15,853 | $16,381 | $16,545 | $17,475 | $17,954 | $18,953 |
| Hamburg Area School District | $10,919 | $10,966 | $11,176 | $10,891 | $11,786 | $12,514 | $12,697 | $13,628 | $15,133 | $15,121 | $14,992 | $15,038 | $15,388 | $15,972 | $16,599 | $17,081 | $17,486 |
| Governor Mifflin School District | $11,539 | $11,695 | $11,701 | $12,100 | $12,224 | $12,046 | $14,245 | $14,343 | $14,465 | $13,877 | $13,901 | $14,374 | $14,514 | $15,261 | $15,494 | $16,169 | $16,171 |
| Muhlenberg School District | $13,105 | $13,411 | $13,555 | $14,445 | $14,950 | $13,768 | $14,487 | $14,070 | $14,651 | $14,304 | $13,663 | $13,149 | $14,103 | $14,467 | $14,358 | $14,850 | $15,417 |
| Fleetwood Area School District | $12,436 | $12,457 | $12,753 | $12,453 | $13,294 | $13,023 | $13,890 | $13,871 | $14,397 | $14,561 | $14,572 | $14,150 | $14,639 | $15,146 | $16,197 | $16,675 | $17,435 |
| Exeter Township School District | $11,418 | $11,455 | $11,610 | $12,395 | $12,790 | $13,010 | $16,371 | $14,178 | $14,986 | $17,347 | $15,128 | $19,415 | $24,330 | $17,761 | $21,288 | $17,154 | $17,566 |
| Daniel Boone Area School District | $10,334 | $11,243 | $11,023 | $11,839 | $12,174 | $12,613 | $12,901 | $12,957 | $13,862 | $13,694 | $13,513 | $13,432 | $14,191 | $14,045 | $20,721 | $18,123 | $26,048 |
| Conrad Weiser Area School District | $12,469 | $12,515 | $12,980 | $13,512 | $14,035 | $13,449 | $14,352 | $13,515 | $14,398 | $14,552 | $15,149 | $15,017 | $19,990 | $15,640 | $16,807 | $17,852 | $18,350 |
| Brandywine Heights Area School District | $11,513 | $11,649 | $12,906 | $13,372 | $14,163 | $14,442 | $15,420 | $16,230 | $16,740 | $17,365 | $17,920 | $16,847 | $16,861 | $18,228 | $18,918 | $20,518 | $21,313 |
| Boyertown Area School District | $11,298 | $11,511 | $11,481 | $11,605 | $12,107 | $14,356 | $12,834 | $12,981 | $13,368 | $13,365 | $13,471 | $12,591 | $12,667 | $13,496 | $14,754 | $15,440 | $15,634 |
| Antietam School District | $11,471 | $11,736 | $12,489 | $11,528 | $11,844 | $13,337 | $13,432 | $13,494 | $14,113 | $20,693 | $14,220 | $23,604 | $14,298 | $14,665 | $22,387 | $25,965 | $16,696 |
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $21,728,036,001 | $22,529,725,214 | $23,155,250,535 | $24,194,454,062 | $24,656,980,298 | $25,324,848,118 | $25,773,300,769 | $26,088,715,193 | $26,846,430,617 | $27,349,860,336 | $27,349,187,470 | $26,435,903,883 | $26,898,991,829 | $27,053,597,120 | $28,322,868,188 | $28,911,985,278 | $30,495,435,507 |
| Berks County | $732,687,853 | $750,979,795 | $780,955,826 | $816,120,453 | $861,904,559 | $901,382,676 | $959,887,502 | $960,374,936 | $1,012,933,274 | $1,052,382,033 | $1,037,714,776 | $1,040,696,400 | $1,065,913,214 | $1,030,033,950 | $1,134,016,985 | $1,095,489,365 | $1,159,784,031 |
| Berks County Regions | |||||||||||||||||
| Central | |||||||||||||||||
| Northeast | |||||||||||||||||
| South | |||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | |||||||||||||||||
| West | |||||||||||||||||
| Reading city | |||||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | |||||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $906,142,413 | $954,050,991 | $1,005,252,928 | $1,081,791,793 | $1,119,677,966 | $1,161,859,101 | $1,222,571,733 | $1,221,509,516 | $1,267,763,801 | $1,289,083,979 | $1,267,151,271 | $1,254,192,565 | $1,273,359,708 | $1,278,033,945 | $1,322,529,317 | $1,387,137,097 | $1,417,458,549 |
| Lancaster County | $766,892,013 | $784,487,064 | $814,737,772 | $840,222,098 | $851,214,198 | $875,143,437 | $931,998,432 | $958,701,721 | $1,002,316,431 | $1,003,273,380 | $995,945,678 | $982,001,246 | $1,008,511,474 | $1,025,994,509 | $1,076,881,183 | $1,088,440,568 | $1,137,194,888 |
| Lebanon County | $191,458,631 | $201,944,511 | $201,605,869 | $208,701,875 | $216,651,140 | $223,857,335 | $240,144,192 | $254,313,948 | $259,608,893 | $270,368,027 | $253,462,392 | $253,236,118 | $267,177,694 | $268,446,075 | $269,182,660 | $282,339,217 | $292,770,199 |
| Lehigh County | $524,911,374 | $544,078,558 | $562,497,601 | $592,026,688 | $621,893,756 | $645,200,180 | $674,630,631 | $685,879,010 | $724,036,016 | $740,135,391 | $757,071,163 | $747,773,258 | $747,470,731 | $773,986,705 | $794,719,376 | $838,071,017 | $860,023,461 |
| Montgomery County | $1,490,740,808 | $1,559,060,383 | $1,634,175,295 | $1,722,627,407 | $1,761,676,209 | $1,847,257,174 | $1,883,171,173 | $1,915,856,455 | $1,973,204,636 | $1,992,275,366 | $1,987,698,810 | $1,973,518,913 | $2,007,793,424 | $2,057,625,566 | $2,151,394,406 | $2,188,029,643 | $2,285,943,954 |
| Schuylkill County | $224,060,728 | $233,580,030 | $260,445,835 | $237,315,783 | $267,651,260 | $256,046,522 | $246,589,023 | $250,625,793 | $268,214,321 | $288,626,599 | $264,883,285 | $289,800,842 | $262,135,475 | $281,902,874 | $320,634,121 | $309,146,953 | $288,201,461 |
| School Districts | |||||||||||||||||
| Wyomissing Area School District | $24,076,521 | $25,015,899 | $25,371,222 | $26,972,354 | $27,948,623 | $28,877,356 | $31,496,420 | $32,066,552 | $32,262,247 | $33,839,417 | $31,705,139 | $31,429,293 | $31,400,679 | $31,122,886 | $33,472,182 | $33,034,053 | $34,691,472 |
| Wilson School District | $26,078,466 | $27,772,918 | $28,804,665 | $30,314,180 | $31,626,943 | $32,725,371 | $33,937,843 | $34,318,743 | $36,034,856 | $36,919,272 | $36,226,391 | $34,987,405 | $34,375,864 | $36,154,622 | $37,511,028 | $37,273,063 | $38,168,547 |
| Twin Valley School District | $37,379,044 | $41,868,226 | $42,274,638 | $43,648,717 | $43,441,050 | $46,920,142 | $49,868,802 | $52,448,862 | $54,887,759 | $53,006,902 | $51,696,176 | $50,899,117 | $50,452,498 | $52,084,223 | $56,404,898 | $57,830,816 | $61,566,486 |
| Tulpehocken Area School District | $20,511,611 | $22,873,461 | $23,684,859 | $22,917,716 | $24,065,631 | $25,131,182 | $26,788,412 | $29,149,179 | $28,842,058 | $29,087,783 | $28,513,399 | $28,104,277 | $35,304,541 | $43,464,091 | $29,407,632 | $29,712,783 | $30,022,857 |
| Schuylkill Valley School District | $27,212,943 | $26,505,754 | $26,923,115 | $28,320,998 | $29,075,998 | $29,961,330 | $32,104,013 | $33,067,867 | $34,247,998 | $34,444,667 | $33,432,163 | $33,490,722 | $34,870,479 | $34,567,617 | $60,608,257 | $37,944,000 | $37,040,247 |
| Reading School District | $149,684,258 | $145,015,287 | $157,858,477 | $165,157,883 | $178,282,825 | $183,262,273 | $195,828,715 | $195,711,833 | $219,461,072 | $241,797,740 | $250,565,415 | $238,386,068 | $218,967,725 | $210,200,064 | $221,263,899 | $222,434,005 | $235,977,356 |
| Kutztown Area School District | $23,688,941 | $25,664,080 | $25,352,972 | $25,776,209 | $26,743,833 | $27,604,424 | $28,164,885 | $28,575,646 | $29,824,481 | $30,030,134 | $30,201,895 | $29,535,250 | $36,551,107 | $31,192,505 | $40,991,190 | $31,696,940 | $51,858,335 |
| Oley Valley School District | $23,304,144 | $23,866,357 | $26,405,522 | $27,112,015 | $28,942,673 | $28,538,172 | $31,683,676 | $30,660,101 | $31,190,744 | $30,198,190 | $29,782,953 | $29,469,584 | $29,259,798 | $29,313,428 | $30,229,116 | $30,712,323 | $31,931,443 |
| Hamburg Area School District | $29,312,789 | $30,010,972 | $30,461,210 | $29,726,633 | $32,129,413 | $33,979,632 | $34,193,683 | $35,725,488 | $38,678,247 | $38,287,305 | $37,465,761 | $36,970,843 | $37,167,123 | $37,083,988 | $37,660,838 | $38,641,047 | $38,904,522 |
| Governor Mifflin School District | $47,691,426 | $48,102,680 | $48,777,358 | $50,354,344 | $51,721,379 | $51,762,191 | $61,209,705 | $61,214,888 | $61,754,231 | $60,735,342 | $59,704,020 | $59,742,456 | $61,933,396 | $62,819,376 | $63,480,516 | $66,579,486 | $67,611,061 |
| Muhlenberg School District | $38,386,794 | $39,967,066 | $40,926,411 | $43,626,841 | $46,888,268 | $45,560,022 | $48,809,143 | $48,384,929 | $51,280,602 | $50,895,519 | $48,980,365 | $47,255,062 | $50,190,187 | $51,526,288 | $52,206,375 | $55,111,168 | $57,647,344 |
| Fleetwood Area School District | $30,261,069 | $31,075,469 | $32,256,780 | $32,836,184 | $35,381,996 | $35,287,223 | $37,694,417 | $38,256,533 | $39,001,037 | $39,885,926 | $40,179,453 | $38,586,445 | $39,469,908 | $40,290,549 | $42,905,545 | $43,296,268 | $44,439,563 |
| Exeter Township School District | $43,836,974 | $44,945,817 | $46,956,933 | $50,682,351 | $53,751,266 | $56,358,909 | $72,099,016 | $62,467,608 | $66,507,335 | $76,361,657 | $67,474,629 | $84,480,497 | $104,638,223 | $74,814,792 | $88,820,095 | $70,399,426 | $70,938,218 |
| Daniel Boone Area School District | $31,267,927 | $35,935,403 | $36,976,123 | $41,305,586 | $43,819,111 | $48,056,884 | $50,482,001 | $51,170,610 | $55,125,123 | $55,786,442 | $53,850,772 | $52,429,365 | $52,746,643 | $52,194,876 | $75,459,695 | $63,891,373 | $91,468,135 |
| Conrad Weiser Area School District | $33,006,442 | $33,413,137 | $35,157,058 | $37,517,210 | $39,902,555 | $40,016,969 | $42,991,429 | $41,296,475 | $43,013,204 | $42,847,142 | $43,723,506 | $43,293,426 | $55,314,152 | $43,682,550 | $45,383,231 | $47,556,532 | $48,294,574 |
| Brandywine Heights Area School District | $23,622,029 | $23,901,351 | $25,738,997 | $27,134,057 | $28,463,535 | $28,679,444 | $29,961,950 | $30,977,571 | $31,048,984 | $30,864,762 | $32,092,237 | $28,438,109 | $28,047,127 | $29,131,565 | $29,143,533 | $30,772,680 | $31,090,494 |
| Boyertown Area School District | $76,154,003 | $77,775,393 | $78,930,931 | $80,940,864 | $86,066,236 | $101,667,464 | $91,717,148 | $92,689,551 | $95,371,664 | $95,947,393 | $97,745,921 | $92,783,477 | $93,019,252 | $98,483,216 | $106,430,605 | $110,224,138 | $111,580,709 |
| Antietam School District | $12,162,432 | $12,535,459 | $13,316,868 | $12,791,362 | $13,150,344 | $14,826,565 | $15,171,076 | $15,046,943 | $15,294,668 | $22,758,268 | $15,436,970 | $25,000,537 | $14,862,745 | $15,456,039 | $24,114,468 | $27,783,768 | $18,395,008 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Quality Early Childhood Centers | Not Applicable |
| Prekindergarten Participation |  Increasing |
| Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch | Increasing |
| English Language Learners | Increasing |
| Students Receiving Special Education Services | Increasing |
| Per Student Spending |  Maintaining |
| Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 3 English |  Decreasing |
| Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 3 Math | Increasing |
| Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 8 English | Increasing |
| Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 8 Math | Decreasing |
| Student Performance on High School English | Decreasing |
| Student Performance on High School Math | Increasing |
| High School Cohort Graduation Rate | Increasing |
| Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity | Maintaining |
| Brain Drain/Gain | Increasing |
| Plans of High School Graduates | Increasing |
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