$128B budget. 46th in reading. 45th in math. The most expensive underperformance in the nation.
Per Pupil
$20.5K
16th nationally
Adjusted Rank
31st
Cost-of-living adj.
Total Budget
$142B
2024-25
Quality Rank
8th
Up 24 spots in 2025
Per-Pupil Spending by State
Current operations spending per student ($, 2025 dollars)
California spends $20,496 per pupil -- 16th nationally, above the US average. But when adjusted for California's higher labor costs, that ranking drops to 31st. A teacher earning $80K in CA has the purchasing power of a $50K teacher in Texas. The money doesn't go as far.
Where the Money Goes
Of California's $142.4 billion K-12 budget:
~55%
Staff Salaries
Teachers, administrators, support staff. Largest single cost.
~25%
Benefits & Pensions
Rising pension contributions absorbed 25% of the entire pre-pandemic spending increase. CalSTRS obligations growing faster than budgets.
Pension costs are eating the budget. Rising CalSTRS contributions consumed 25% of pre-pandemic spending growth. Money that should go to classrooms goes to retirees. This is a structural problem that gets worse every year.
Sources: EIA, CAISO, CA Energy Commission, CPUC, CA Legislative Analyst, NRC, AAA, GasBuddy, Tax Foundation, MIT/Stanford, Kpler, Bloomberg, Reuters, CalMatters, UC Davis. March 2026.