March 11, 2010 12:10PM 

# They Spend WHAT? The Real Cost of Public Schools 

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Although public schools are usually the biggest item in state and local budgets, spending figures provided by public school officials and reported in the media often leave out major costs of education, and understate what is actually spent.

In [a new study](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11432), Cato’s Adam B. Schaeffer reviews district budgets and state records for the nation’s five largest metro areas and the District of Columbia. Schaeffer finds that, **on average, per-pupil spending in these areas is 44 percent higher than officially reported.**

In this new video, Schaeffer [explains the whole thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzvKyfV3JtE) in under three minutes:

##### Related Tags 

[Education](https://www.cato.org/education), [General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Center for Educational Freedom](https://www.cato.org/center-educational-freedom) 

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