Nevada School Funding: Does More Money Mean Better Results?

Nevada’s education system has long struggled with its position near the bottom of national rankings for both per-pupil spending and educational outcomes, a challenge that underscores the complex relationship between funding and academic success. While recent years have shown the state climbing a rank or two, the question remains: does increased funding guarantee better education in Nevada? The data suggests that simply pouring more money into schools is not the sole answer. Without strategic reforms targeting teacher quality, curriculum development, and resource allocation, additional funds may fail to translate into meaningful improvements in student performance.

During the 2023 legislative session, the Nevada Legislature approved a $2.6 billion increase for K-12 education, elevating Nevada’s average per-pupil funding from $12,229 to approximately $13,000. This increase has helped to address Nevada’s prior ranking of 47th nationally in per-pupil spending, potentially improving our position to approximately 43rd or 44th, surpassing Alabama ($13,461) but falling below Texas and Arizona (both at $14,000) and well below the 2025 national average of $16,340.

However, despite Nevada’s upward movement in per-pupil spending rankings, its educational outcomes have not seen a corresponding improvement compared to other states. States like Idaho ($10,247) and Utah ($7,628), which spend less per pupil, consistently outperform Nevada in metrics such as graduation rates and standardized test scores. For example, Utah ranks among the top states for educational outcomes, while Nevada remains in the lower tier, often ranked 49th in overall education quality. This disparity suggests that factors beyond funding plays a significant role in determining educational success.

According to a Brookings Institution study, a 10% increase in school funding over 12 years can raise graduation rates by 7%. The Reason Foundation highlights that low-spending states like Idaho often outperform high-spending states like New York, which spends approximately $24,040 per pupil, in test scores, emphasizing the need for strategic allocation to areas such as teacher training, curriculum, and student support.

Nevada’s recent funding increases have contributed to slight progress in educational rankings, but data suggests that without targeted reforms, additional investment alone may not elevate outcomes above states that achieve more with less.