Missouri Public School Funding: A Primer
By: Martin F. Lueken, Ph.D.
This PRiMER on Missouri public school funding explains revenue sources, trends, formula mechanics, district expenditures, protections against enrollment decline, and fiscal reserves to provide a clear foundation for understanding Missouri’s school finance system. Over time, average per-pupil funding has risen substantially in real terms, though Missouri remains below the national average while aligning more closely with its neighboring states. Despite this equalization mechanism, wide variation in spending exists across districts, with evidence suggesting some regressive elements that benefit wealthier areas.
Key Points:
Public elementary and secondary education in Missouri represents more than one-fifth of all state expenditures and is the state’s second largest public service enterprise.
The share of federal funding increased after the Covid pandemic with the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program, a federal funding initiative that allocated $190 billion in emergency relief funds to public K-12 schools across the United States. Missouri received $1.9 billion in ESSER funding, or $3,000 for each public school student. Districts had until September 2024 to use these funds.
Average per-pupil funding for Missouri public schools increased from $11,215 in FY 1995 to $17,056 in FY 2023. Thus, Missouri public school students (excluding charter schools) today, on average, have access to about 52% more real (i.e., inflation-adjusted) resources than Missouri public school students in FY 1995.
Adjusting for cost differences across states, Missouri ranks 31 out of 50 states plus D.C. in per-student funding for public schools. Missouri’s average per-student funding is in line with bordering states, $203 more than the regional average.
Per-pupil spending varies significantly across Missouri school districts, ranging from $8,415 up to as much as $60,575.
Some data seem to indicate that public school funding may be regressive or have regressive elements. This means that wealthier districts receive more funding than poorer districts.
Ending fund balances for all Missouri public schools combined more than quadrupled from 2001 to 2023, from $2.8 billion to $9.1 billion. This suggests that Missouri public schools have significant reserves available after accounting for their annual expenditures, even before the influx of ESSER funds.
Please Cite As: Leuken, M. (2025). Missouri Public School Funding: A Primer. Policy Research in Missouri Education, 7(26). Saint Louis University. https://www.primecenter.org/education-reports-database/funding