New York City is pouring unprecedented amounts of money into its public school system, even as student enrollment continues to drop and academic performance remains average compared to other major urban districts, according to budget analysts and education experts, the NY Post reports.

The city’s education budget has reached roughly $43 billion, with per-student spending climbing to about $44,000. Observers warn that costs could climb even higher as Mayor Zohran Mamdani prepares his first budget proposal, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.

Experts say the level of spending is difficult to justify given that student outcomes in math and English remain in the middle range among large city districts.

“Despite the City spending $44,000 per student, too many of its schools are delivering middling results, and some parents are increasingly choosing charters over traditional public schools,” said Andrew Rein, executive director of the Citizens Budget Commission.

“The City should focus its effort and dollars on student learning and shrink spending that’s not delivering results. This includes adjusting school funding when enrollment shrinks and combining schools that have shrunk so much that they are no longer cost-effective to run.”

Efforts to streamline the system could face added challenges due to a new state mandate requiring smaller class sizes, even as enrollment declines, critics noted.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative Democrats are weighing whether to give the city additional time to comply with the requirement, which has been strongly supported by teachers’ unions, as part of ongoing budget negotiations.

“The law is unworkable law. It’s impossible to implement,” said Daniela Souza, an education researcher with the Manhattan Institute.

Over the past decade, the city’s public school system has lost 157,900 students, yet it now operates 39 more schools than it did previously.

Data also show that 249 out of roughly 1,600 schools—about 15%—are operating at less than half capacity.

Enrollment trends reveal that nearly half of all public schools now serve fewer than 400 students, including 134 schools with fewer than 150 students.

Projections indicate the downward trend will continue, according to a report by the City School Construction Authority.

Enrollment in traditional public schools is expected to drop by another 153,000 students by the 2034–35 school year, reaching about 721,251 students.

“The New York City’s Department of Education budget keeps going up while the number of students they’re educating continues to decline,” Souza said.

“School closings and mergers are inevitable.”

Federal data show that New York City spends about 50% more per student than other large urban districts, including Los Angeles and Chicago.

However, results have not kept pace with the investment, based on findings from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Only about one-third of fourth-grade students reached proficiency in math, while 28% were proficient in reading.

Among eighth graders, 23% were proficient in math and 29% in reading.

While declining enrollment is a nationwide issue tied to lower birth rates and immigration patterns, analysts say New York City is also seeing families leave the system in search of alternatives.

Charter schools now educate approximately 150,500 students across 285 campuses—nearly one out of every six public school students in the city.

In many cases, charter school students outperform those in nearby traditional public schools on state math and English exams.

Spending patterns also differ from other cities. In 2023, New York City allocated 61% of its education budget to teacher compensation, compared to 52% in Los Angeles and 43% in Miami, according to analysis cited by The Atlantic.

A breakdown of city education spending shows $35.3 billion allocated to K-12 schools, including $13 billion for salaries, $8.1 billion for pensions, benefits, and debt obligations, $3.5 billion for charter school payments, $3.1 billion for early childhood programs, and $1.5 billion for special education-related legal cases and private tuition.

Transportation costs have risen to $1.9 billion, up from $1.4 billion in 2019, while spending on facilities and maintenance has increased to $1.3 billion from $1 billion.

The city also spends roughly $700 million on contracts, including consulting services.

Special education costs have grown sharply, according to City Comptroller Mark Levine.

Expenses tied to “due process” cases—where families seek private school placements for special education needs—have climbed from $500 million in 2019 to $1.5 billion today.

These cases often involve legal fees and reimbursements to families.

Officials from the Department of Education said the Mamdani administration is aware of the financial pressures but has not yet outlined major structural changes.

“There is no better investment than one in our children,” said DOE spokesperson Nicole Brownstein.

“New York City Public Schools always works to ensure that every student has access to a world-class education while spending every dollar thoughtfully and finding savings where possible, and as Mayor Mamdani works to make our city more affordable for families, we are working in tandem to meet the class size law, cut excess spending, and build a school system that sets every child up for lifelong success.”

“Enrollment trends reflect broader demographic trends, including changes in birth rates and population patterns,” Brownstein went on.

“As our city contends with these national trends, we will continue to look for solutions that deliver a robust and diverse education to all students while making sure every school has room to comply with the class size law — community and family driven school utilization changes are an important part of that work.”

{Matzav.com}