The Education Law Center released its annual review of each state’s school finances and how they rank in the country.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina ranked last in a public school funding report and received failing grades in two out of three categories, according to the Education Law Center.
The ELC released its “Making the Grade” report, an annual overview that looks at state public school funding data and whether it sets their students up for success. The data in this report comes from 2022-23 school year.
North Carolina ranked last in effort to fund state public schools. Effort is considered the percentage of state GDP invested in public education.
North Carolina invested 2% of its GDP into education while the highest ranked state, Vermont, invested nearly triple by percentage at 5.4%, despite the Tar Heel state earning a higher GDP and higher economic growth.
This adds up to North Carolina spending $12,193 to Vermont’s $27,067.
One category North Carolina ranked better on is funding distribution. This measures the difference in funding per pupil from low-poverty districts and high-poverty districts.
“Progressive” states provide equitable funding while “Regressive” states provide unbalanced funding, more for low-poverty districts.
For example, the lowest ranked state, Connecticut, has a funding disparity that leads to impoverished areas receiving $4,000+ less than other districts.
North Carolina ranked on the low end of progressive, with a C grade, providing about $600 more for high-poverty areas.
However, North Carolina received an F grade in the third and final category: funding level.
The Education Law Center ranked it 49th, just above Idaho. In comparison, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia all ranked at least a D grade. Overall, North Carolina’s funding has worsened from year to year.
The North Carolina Association of Educators says the failing grades exemplify state lawmaker’s failure to support public education.
“North Carolina’s failing grades reflect years of deliberate neglect,” NCAE president Tamika Walker Kelly said. “Lawmakers have refused to fully fund our public schools, denied educators meaningful raises, and the Supreme Court has allowed Leandro to languish. Our children cannot afford this continued failure of leadership.”
Leandro refers to the decades-old state Supreme Court case in which five low-wealth school districts claim North Carolina failed to provide enough funding to support an adequate education for their students.
The Leandro case had some movement in the last few years, with a statewide decision to release $5 billion to school in 2022 and the state Supreme Court hearing arguments in February 2024.
But, requests from Republic lawmakers have paused the release. Meanwhile, the case has stalled and remained in limbo since 1994.
Funding for public schools also remains unclear as the North Carolina General Assembly has still not passed a state budget.