By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey education officials have released the 2025 Taxpayers’ Guide to Education Spending, offering residents a clearer look at how local districts are allocating their resources. 
The update was shared in a statement released by the New Jersey Department of Education.
The guide reports that the projected Budgetary Cost Per Pupil for the 2024–2025 school year is $21,199 for districts serving preschool through grade 12, including charters and county vocational schools.
That figure represents a 9.9 percent increase, or $1,913, over the prior year’s actual average.
It also breaks down spending across categories such as classroom instruction, administrative costs, and support services, while including staffing indicators like student-to-teacher ratios.
The publication further details Total Spending Per Pupil, a broader measure that accounts for transportation, out-of-district tuition, meal programs, and state-funded pension payments.
For the 2023–2024 school year, the statewide average was $29,978, a 4 percent increase from the previous year.
State officials say the guide is intended to help communities better understand how education dollars are being used as districts prepare for future needs.