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 2018, Berks County school districts spent about $17,000 per student, about 4% less than the statewide level of $17,600. The county rate represented a 44% increase since 2001, compared to a 42% increase at the statewide level.
Spending in 2018 was highest in the Kutztown Area School District, at $23,700 per student, up 77% from 2001, followed by the Brandywine district, at $22,700. Per-student spending was lowest in the Reading district, at $13,600.
Among surrounding counties, 2018 per-student spending was higher than Berks in Montgomery ($21,300) and Chester ($18,900). Lancaster was similar to Berks and Lehigh and Lebanon spent less, at $16,700 and $15,300 respectively per student. Since 2001, per-student spending increased more than Berks in only Lancaster (50%) and Schuykill (45%). Montgomery, Lebanon and Lehigh were slightly lower than Berks, and Chester was lowest, at 33%.
Figures are from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and have been adjusted to 2018 dollars. Per pupil expenditures are calculated by dividing a district's operating costs by its average enrollment across the school year.
There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $12,368 | $12,801 | $13,105 | $13,669 | $13,951 | $14,306 | $14,594 | $14,840 | $15,385 | $15,766 | $15,823 | $15,431 | $15,761 | $15,931 | $16,797 | $17,185 | $18,169 | $17,582 |
| Berks County | $11,765 | $11,856 | $11,971 | $12,313 | $12,740 | $13,059 | $13,740 | $13,795 | $14,635 | $15,253 | $14,917 | $15,033 | $15,529 | $15,148 | $16,785 | $16,221 | $17,229 | $16,959 |
| Berks County Regions | ||||||||||||||||||
| Central | ||||||||||||||||||
| Northeast | ||||||||||||||||||
| South | ||||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | ||||||||||||||||||
| West | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reading city | ||||||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $14,213 | $14,716 | $15,135 | $16,025 | $16,315 | $16,554 | $17,214 | $17,025 | $17,551 | $17,633 | $17,232 | $17,001 | $17,212 | $17,156 | $17,809 | $18,704 | $18,923 | $18,909 |
| Lancaster County | $11,403 | $11,558 | $11,945 | $12,281 | $12,372 | $12,645 | $13,500 | $13,951 | $14,655 | $14,754 | $14,614 | $14,450 | $14,830 | $15,190 | $16,006 | $16,251 | $16,987 | $17,142 |
| Lebanon County | $10,855 | $11,341 | $11,199 | $11,391 | $11,624 | $11,979 | $12,752 | $13,361 | $13,720 | $14,247 | $13,440 | $13,336 | $13,884 | $14,041 | $13,984 | $14,626 | $15,169 | $15,298 |
| Lehigh County | $11,798 | $12,013 | $12,127 | $12,517 | $12,919 | $13,082 | $13,356 | $13,565 | $14,388 | $14,466 | $14,755 | $14,690 | $14,732 | $15,171 | $15,529 | $16,325 | $16,566 | $16,711 |
| Montgomery County | $15,235 | $15,707 | $16,200 | $16,978 | $17,265 | $17,949 | $18,235 | $18,566 | $19,129 | $19,398 | $19,165 | $19,000 | $19,204 | $19,618 | $20,555 | $20,719 | $21,536 | $21,338 |
| Schuylkill County | $11,318 | $11,992 | $13,547 | $12,449 | $14,014 | $13,281 | $12,712 | $12,926 | $13,977 | $15,052 | $13,849 | $15,257 | $13,908 | $15,057 | $17,402 | $16,861 | $15,767 | $16,376 |
| School Districts | ||||||||||||||||||
| Exeter Township School District | $11,697 | $11,735 | $11,893 | $12,698 | $13,103 | $13,328 | $16,771 | $14,524 | $15,352 | $17,771 | $15,498 | $19,889 | $24,925 | $18,195 | $21,808 | $17,573 | $17,995 | $19,982 |
| Kutztown Area School District | $13,389 | $14,542 | $14,267 | $14,572 | $15,300 | $16,071 | $16,780 | $17,172 | $18,431 | $19,454 | $19,618 | $19,962 | $25,013 | $22,020 | $29,935 | $23,419 | $38,748 | $23,709 |
| Wilson School District | $11,798 | $12,626 | $12,967 | $13,619 | $14,342 | $14,775 | $15,134 | $15,142 | $15,878 | $16,542 | $16,246 | $15,764 | $15,347 | $16,129 | $16,741 | $16,749 | $16,811 | $16,189 |
| Tulpehocken Area School District | $12,240 | $13,402 | $13,926 | $13,506 | $13,812 | $14,816 | $16,053 | $17,655 | $18,026 | $18,653 | $18,521 | $18,652 | $23,813 | $30,654 | $21,231 | $21,093 | $20,997 | $21,033 |
| Daniel Boone Area School District | $10,587 | $11,517 | $11,293 | $12,128 | $12,472 | $12,921 | $13,216 | $13,273 | $14,201 | $14,028 | $13,843 | $13,760 | $14,537 | $14,388 | $21,227 | $18,565 | $26,685 | $19,840 |
| Governor Mifflin School District | $11,821 | $11,981 | $11,987 | $12,395 | $12,523 | $12,340 | $14,593 | $14,694 | $14,819 | $14,216 | $14,240 | $14,725 | $14,868 | $15,634 | $15,873 | $16,564 | $16,566 | $16,395 |
| Reading School District | $10,190 | $9,571 | $9,754 | $10,013 | $10,517 | $10,523 | $10,970 | $11,165 | $12,548 | $14,057 | $14,020 | $13,209 | $12,221 | $11,795 | $12,490 | $12,419 | $13,106 | $13,612 |
| Conrad Weiser Area School District | $12,773 | $12,821 | $13,297 | $13,843 | $14,378 | $13,777 | $14,703 | $13,845 | $14,750 | $14,907 | $15,519 | $15,383 | $20,478 | $16,023 | $17,217 | $18,288 | $18,798 | $19,397 |
| Fleetwood Area School District | $12,740 | $12,761 | $13,064 | $12,757 | $13,619 | $13,341 | $14,229 | $14,210 | $14,748 | $14,917 | $14,927 | $14,496 | $14,997 | $15,516 | $16,593 | $17,082 | $17,861 | $18,159 |
| Muhlenberg School District | $13,425 | $13,738 | $13,886 | $14,798 | $15,315 | $14,105 | $14,841 | $14,414 | $15,009 | $14,653 | $13,996 | $13,470 | $14,448 | $14,821 | $14,709 | $15,212 | $15,794 | $15,450 |
| Boyertown Area School District | $11,574 | $11,792 | $11,762 | $11,889 | $12,402 | $14,706 | $13,147 | $13,299 | $13,694 | $13,691 | $13,800 | $12,898 | $12,976 | $13,826 | $15,114 | $15,817 | $16,016 | $16,004 |
| Wyomissing Area School District | $13,396 | $14,263 | $14,187 | $14,818 | $15,199 | $15,416 | $16,902 | $17,161 | $17,461 | $18,158 | $17,192 | $16,709 | $16,642 | $16,547 | $17,615 | $17,154 | $18,106 | $18,220 |
| Antietam School District | $11,751 | $12,023 | $12,794 | $11,810 | $12,133 | $13,663 | $13,761 | $13,823 | $14,458 | $21,199 | $14,568 | $24,180 | $14,648 | $15,023 | $22,934 | $26,599 | $17,104 | $16,533 |
| Twin Valley School District | $12,849 | $13,852 | $13,657 | $13,725 | $13,501 | $14,204 | $14,460 | $15,095 | $15,952 | $15,587 | $15,050 | $14,921 | $14,723 | $15,294 | $16,635 | $17,013 | $18,894 | $20,993 |
| Hamburg Area School District | $11,186 | $11,234 | $11,449 | $11,157 | $12,074 | $12,820 | $13,007 | $13,961 | $15,503 | $15,490 | $15,359 | $15,405 | $15,764 | $16,362 | $17,004 | $17,499 | $17,913 | $19,134 |
| Schuylkill Valley School District | $14,788 | $14,231 | $14,335 | $15,036 | $14,964 | $15,097 | $16,294 | $16,607 | $17,851 | $17,118 | $17,436 | $17,488 | $17,915 | $17,649 | $30,426 | $18,898 | $18,211 | $18,252 |
| Oley Valley School District | $11,248 | $11,747 | $12,371 | $13,135 | $14,222 | $13,936 | $15,648 | $15,563 | $15,893 | $16,119 | $15,832 | $16,240 | $16,781 | $16,950 | $17,902 | $18,392 | $19,416 | $19,140 |
| Brandywine Heights Area School District | $11,795 | $11,934 | $13,221 | $13,698 | $14,509 | $14,795 | $15,796 | $16,627 | $17,148 | $17,789 | $18,358 | $17,258 | $17,273 | $18,673 | $19,380 | $21,019 | $21,833 | $22,675 |
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $22,258,738,317 | $23,080,008,606 | $23,720,812,240 | $24,785,398,075 | $25,259,221,409 | $25,943,401,748 | $26,402,807,752 | $26,725,926,102 | $27,502,148,552 | $28,017,874,426 | $28,017,185,125 | $27,081,594,796 | $27,555,993,559 | $27,714,375,049 | $29,014,647,773 | $29,618,153,913 | $31,240,279,552 | $30,211,199,140 |
| Berks County | $750,583,586 | $769,322,305 | $800,030,494 | $836,054,009 | $882,956,381 | $923,398,741 | $983,332,535 | $983,831,874 | $1,037,673,938 | $1,078,086,224 | $1,063,060,722 | $1,066,115,172 | $1,091,947,901 | $1,055,192,294 | $1,161,715,090 | $1,122,246,442 | $1,188,111,491 | $1,173,988,591 |
| Berks County Regions | ||||||||||||||||||
| Central | ||||||||||||||||||
| Northeast | ||||||||||||||||||
| South | ||||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | ||||||||||||||||||
| West | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reading city | ||||||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $928,274,735 | $977,353,468 | $1,029,806,001 | $1,108,214,311 | $1,147,025,845 | $1,190,237,244 | $1,252,432,768 | $1,251,344,607 | $1,298,728,642 | $1,320,569,560 | $1,298,101,151 | $1,284,825,931 | $1,304,461,228 | $1,309,249,632 | $1,354,831,793 | $1,421,017,604 | $1,452,079,650 | $1,461,889,991 |
| Lancaster County | $785,623,175 | $803,647,982 | $834,637,555 | $860,744,331 | $872,004,910 | $896,518,615 | $954,762,280 | $982,117,792 | $1,026,797,781 | $1,027,778,103 | $1,020,271,424 | $1,005,986,402 | $1,033,144,136 | $1,051,054,191 | $1,103,183,760 | $1,115,025,480 | $1,164,970,613 | $1,173,511,233 |
| Lebanon County | $196,134,965 | $206,876,960 | $206,530,046 | $213,799,370 | $221,942,795 | $229,325,000 | $246,009,659 | $260,525,508 | $265,949,781 | $276,971,705 | $259,653,153 | $259,421,352 | $273,703,448 | $275,002,809 | $275,757,385 | $289,235,288 | $299,921,044 | $311,918,126 |
| Lehigh County | $537,732,215 | $557,367,553 | $576,236,476 | $606,486,805 | $637,083,369 | $660,959,047 | $691,108,330 | $702,631,448 | $741,720,431 | $758,213,029 | $775,562,453 | $766,037,449 | $765,727,532 | $792,891,154 | $814,130,215 | $858,540,711 | $881,029,338 | $899,149,473 |
| Montgomery County | $1,527,151,811 | $1,597,140,077 | $1,674,089,653 | $1,764,702,187 | $1,804,704,748 | $1,892,376,009 | $1,929,167,199 | $1,962,650,811 | $2,021,399,708 | $2,040,936,236 | $2,036,247,899 | $2,021,721,662 | $2,056,833,320 | $2,107,882,600 | $2,203,941,723 | $2,241,471,767 | $2,341,777,613 | $2,333,459,010 |
| Schuylkill County | $229,533,360 | $239,285,169 | $266,807,165 | $243,112,167 | $274,188,581 | $262,300,400 | $252,611,903 | $256,747,271 | $274,765,394 | $295,676,238 | $271,352,998 | $296,879,162 | $268,538,074 | $288,788,287 | $328,465,536 | $316,697,797 | $295,240,715 | $306,019,813 |
| School Districts | ||||||||||||||||||
| Exeter Township School District | $44,907,682 | $46,043,608 | $48,103,845 | $51,920,256 | $55,064,128 | $57,735,462 | $73,860,018 | $63,993,365 | $68,131,762 | $78,226,773 | $69,122,682 | $86,543,914 | $107,193,988 | $76,642,127 | $90,989,505 | $72,118,916 | $72,670,867 | $80,163,206 |
| Kutztown Area School District | $24,267,538 | $26,290,920 | $25,972,213 | $26,405,787 | $27,397,045 | $28,278,656 | $28,852,806 | $29,273,600 | $30,552,937 | $30,763,613 | $30,939,570 | $30,256,642 | $37,443,860 | $31,954,375 | $41,992,391 | $32,471,131 | $53,124,963 | $32,472,443 |
| Wilson School District | $26,715,427 | $28,451,265 | $29,508,212 | $31,054,597 | $32,399,424 | $33,524,680 | $34,766,767 | $35,156,971 | $36,914,999 | $37,821,017 | $37,111,212 | $35,841,964 | $35,215,486 | $37,037,690 | $38,427,227 | $38,183,449 | $39,100,805 | $38,722,839 |
| Tulpehocken Area School District | $21,012,603 | $23,432,140 | $24,263,356 | $23,477,476 | $24,653,428 | $25,745,005 | $27,442,712 | $29,861,141 | $29,546,519 | $29,798,246 | $29,209,832 | $28,790,717 | $36,166,847 | $44,525,691 | $30,125,906 | $30,438,511 | $30,756,158 | $30,868,178 |
| Daniel Boone Area School District | $32,031,639 | $36,813,117 | $37,879,256 | $42,314,466 | $44,889,383 | $49,230,662 | $51,715,012 | $52,420,440 | $56,471,541 | $57,149,013 | $55,166,064 | $53,709,940 | $54,034,968 | $53,469,724 | $77,302,781 | $65,451,906 | $93,702,223 | $68,587,658 |
| Governor Mifflin School District | $48,856,278 | $49,277,577 | $49,968,734 | $51,584,237 | $52,984,662 | $53,026,471 | $62,704,738 | $62,710,048 | $63,262,564 | $62,218,789 | $61,162,277 | $61,201,652 | $63,446,105 | $64,353,725 | $65,031,013 | $68,205,675 | $69,262,445 | $69,281,233 |
| Reading School District | $153,340,262 | $148,557,253 | $161,714,134 | $169,191,827 | $182,637,343 | $187,738,412 | $200,611,787 | $200,492,050 | $224,821,359 | $247,703,595 | $256,685,418 | $244,208,594 | $224,315,962 | $215,334,152 | $226,668,220 | $227,866,905 | $241,741,049 | $254,715,904 |
| Conrad Weiser Area School District | $33,812,617 | $34,229,245 | $36,015,761 | $38,433,559 | $40,877,166 | $40,994,375 | $44,041,484 | $42,305,132 | $44,063,791 | $43,893,674 | $44,791,443 | $44,350,858 | $56,665,187 | $44,749,486 | $46,491,706 | $48,718,090 | $49,474,157 | $49,365,781 |
| Fleetwood Area School District | $31,000,189 | $31,834,480 | $33,044,645 | $33,638,201 | $36,246,193 | $36,149,105 | $38,615,095 | $39,190,940 | $39,953,628 | $40,860,131 | $41,160,827 | $39,528,910 | $40,433,951 | $41,274,636 | $43,953,503 | $44,353,769 | $45,524,989 | $45,864,693 |
| Muhlenberg School District | $39,324,383 | $40,943,252 | $41,926,029 | $44,692,417 | $48,033,503 | $46,672,815 | $50,001,296 | $49,566,719 | $52,533,119 | $52,138,630 | $50,176,699 | $48,409,256 | $51,416,071 | $52,784,806 | $53,481,504 | $56,457,245 | $59,055,367 | $59,906,493 |
| Boyertown Area School District | $78,014,048 | $79,675,040 | $80,858,801 | $82,917,826 | $88,168,384 | $104,150,669 | $93,957,319 | $94,953,472 | $97,701,095 | $98,290,886 | $100,133,343 | $95,049,692 | $95,291,226 | $100,888,646 | $109,030,148 | $112,916,338 | $114,306,042 | $113,804,724 |
| Wyomissing Area School District | $24,664,585 | $25,626,907 | $25,990,908 | $27,631,147 | $28,631,262 | $29,582,679 | $32,265,713 | $32,849,770 | $33,050,245 | $34,665,937 | $32,479,530 | $32,196,946 | $32,167,634 | $31,883,055 | $34,289,732 | $33,840,903 | $35,538,804 | $35,954,038 |
| Antietam School District | $12,459,497 | $12,841,635 | $13,642,129 | $13,103,788 | $13,471,538 | $15,188,700 | $15,541,626 | $15,414,461 | $15,668,237 | $23,314,133 | $15,814,014 | $25,611,170 | $15,225,764 | $15,833,549 | $24,703,459 | $28,462,380 | $18,844,302 | $19,051,150 |
| Twin Valley School District | $38,292,018 | $42,890,848 | $43,307,186 | $44,714,827 | $44,502,088 | $48,066,156 | $51,086,836 | $53,729,913 | $56,228,380 | $54,301,584 | $52,958,844 | $52,142,316 | $51,684,789 | $53,356,369 | $57,782,575 | $59,243,321 | $63,070,233 | $68,281,160 |
| Hamburg Area School District | $30,028,748 | $30,743,984 | $31,205,218 | $30,452,699 | $32,914,166 | $34,809,577 | $35,028,856 | $36,598,075 | $39,622,954 | $39,222,463 | $38,380,854 | $37,873,848 | $38,074,921 | $37,989,756 | $38,580,696 | $39,584,846 | $39,854,756 | $42,343,875 |
| Schuylkill Valley School District | $27,877,613 | $27,153,151 | $27,580,706 | $29,012,732 | $29,786,173 | $30,693,129 | $32,888,146 | $33,875,543 | $35,084,497 | $35,285,971 | $34,248,735 | $34,308,725 | $35,722,182 | $35,411,924 | $62,088,600 | $38,870,774 | $37,944,947 | $38,074,156 |
| Oley Valley School District | $23,873,342 | $24,449,288 | $27,050,471 | $27,774,220 | $29,649,591 | $29,235,210 | $32,457,543 | $31,408,967 | $31,952,571 | $30,935,774 | $30,510,395 | $30,189,372 | $29,974,462 | $30,029,402 | $30,967,455 | $31,462,464 | $32,711,361 | $32,377,018 |
| Brandywine Heights Area School District | $24,198,992 | $24,485,136 | $26,367,666 | $27,796,800 | $29,158,750 | $29,379,933 | $30,693,763 | $31,734,191 | $31,807,348 | $31,618,627 | $32,876,082 | $29,132,703 | $28,732,172 | $29,843,097 | $29,855,358 | $31,524,296 | $31,849,872 | $32,261,129 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Quality Early Childhood Centers |  Increasing |
| 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 |
| Student Performance on Grade 3 English | Not Applicable |
| Student Performance on Grade 3 Math | Not Applicable |
| Student Performance on Grade 8 English | Not Applicable |
| Student Performance on Grade 8 Math | Not Applicable |
| Student Performance on High School English |  Decreasing |
| Student Performance on High School Math | Maintaining |
| High School Cohort Graduation Rate | Increasing |
| Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Brain Drain/Gain | Maintaining |
| Plans of High School Graduates | Not Applicable |
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