A new report from the U.S. Census provides a wealth of data on public school spending. (Links to all the data can be found here.)

A look at state revenues and spending per pupil can be found in this spreadsheet, Table 11 from the report. It shows that Washington spent $9,483 per pupil, ranking the state 30th, slightly below the U.S. average of $10,560.The table also shows that Washington ranks 30th in total revenues per pupil, $11,329. And, as we noted in our comparative analysis of education funding, we rank relatively high in state spending, No. 15, and lower in local funding, No. 36. We concluded in the comparative analysis,

With the recession, state revenues declined and have only recently begun to return to trend growth. To an extraordinary degree, Washington funds the public schools from the state budget. Correspondingly, local levies provide a relatively small share of education funding. McCleary [the state Supreme Court decision ordering increased school funding], as commonly understood suggests that the court would further increase the state’s role, while reducing dependence on local levies.

As the legislature continues to wrestle with the state budget problem, that high degree of state education funding means there’s less budget room than in many other states.

In reviewing the data, Stateline notes the 2011 dip in school funding overall and on a per pupil basis.

Total spending by public elementary and secondary school systems totaled $595.1 billion in 2011, down 1.1 percent from 2010. This is the second time total expenditures have shown a year-to-year decrease. The first was in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau said.

The decline in per-student spending was the first since the U.S. Census Bureau began collecting data on an annual basis in 1977.

Here’s the per pupil chart showing the dip.

Observe also the steady climb up to the beginning of the recession.

The numbers lend themselves to subjective evaluation. Consider the following headlines.

MYNorthwest.com: Washington spending per student below national average

Stateline: New York spends most per student, Utah the least

Seattle Times: Education Spending: Idaho worst; Washington below average

Linda Thomas at MyNorthwest writes,

Critics, such as Bill Gates, have argued that throwing more money at public education is not the solution. Public education costs have skyrocketed over the past decade, while academic achievement has not kept pace.

The Gates Foundation is among those who want the system overhauled before more money is spent.

James Taranto at the Wall Street Journal comments on the Seattle Times headline.

The headline writer was wrong to use the superlative without preceding it by “Second” or “Next to.” But more important, he used the wrong adjective. Idaho’s spending was the second-lowest, which would make it the second-best from the standpoint of the taxpayer.

But, you may ask, what about the children? Unlike recipients of cash or cash-equivalent benefits like Social Security or food stamps, you can’t measure the benefit of schools in terms of dollars. And this study makes no effort to gauge the quality of education. It could be that Idaho’s school system gives taxpayers an unusually good value for the money.

New York or Utah? Where would you prefer to send your children to public schools?

Finally, our friends at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan have released a report on the next funding challenge for public schools.

Michigan public schools have seen fewer dollars remain available for classroom education in recent years as more of their revenues have been needed to meet unfunded retirement system liabilities…

Washington is in better shape than most states, but the CRC report reminds us of the importance of controlling escalating post employment benefit costs.