Report: Mass. Ranks 7th In Per-Pupil Spending

New figures released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows the Bay State ranks seventh among the 50 states in per-pupil spending.

The statistics looked at how much government entities spent on elementary and secondary education during 2007. Massachusetts spent an average of $12,738 per student, well above the national average of $9,666.

The census figures show that, in Massachusetts, local property taxes account for the majority of what is spent on public education. Local communities spent $7.2 billion on elementary and secondary education, while the state kicked in $6.5 billion. The federal government's share in Massachusetts was $754 million.

Of the 50 states, New York had the highest per-pupil spending, at $15,981, followed by New Jersey, District of Columbia, Vermont, Wyoming and Connecticut. Utah spent the least amount of money, at an average of $5,683 per pupil.