cost per student in Ca (purchasing, construction, school districts)

[4beanie]

How do they calculate the cost per student. Does it incumber all wages of janitors on up to upper administration?

[Charles]

Depends on who you mean by "they".

From Great Schools,

Spending Per Pupil

"
Total per pupil expenditures

This shows the school district's total spending per pupil. This dollar figure captures the cost of day-to-day operation of schools. This includes all costs except those associated with school construction, land acquisition and adult education. State averages are calculated using data from all available districts.


Instructional expenditures
This shows the percentage of total per pupil expenditures spent on the cost of teachers instructing students. This number includes teacher salaries, supplies such as textbooks, and purchased instructional services.


Student and staff support expenditures
This shows the percentage of total per pupil expenditures spent on student and staff support. Student support includes the cost of health, psychological, guidance and therapy departments at a school. Staff support includes the cost of school libraries, media centers and training.


Administration expenditures
This shows the percentage of total per pupil expenditures spent on the administration of both schools and school districts. This would include expenditures on the board of education, the office of the principal, graduation expenses, as well as central office expenses such as budgeting, payroll, purchasing, planning and research.


Other expenditures
This shows the percentage of total per pupil expenditures spent on all other types of expenditures. Examples of costs in this category include Operations (utilities, maintenance and security), Food Service, and the salaries of support staff such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2006"

[4beanie]

Thanks Charles