The correlation coefficient shows a positive, albeit very weak, relationship
between per pupil expenditure and NAEP scale score. Of course, these
results should be interpreted with extreme caution, as a number of
other variables are likely in play.
Jurisdiction PPE Read 4 Read 8 Math 4 Math 8
New York $15,981 224 264 243 280
New Jersey $15,691 231 270 249 289
D.C. $14,324 197 241 214 248
Vermont $13,471 228 273 246 291
Wyoming $13,217 225 266 244 287
Connecticut $12,979 227 267 243 282
Massachusetts $12,738 236 273 252 298
Rhode Island $12,612 219 258 236 275
Alaska $12,300 214 259 237 283
Delaware $11,829 225 265 242 283
Maryland $11,724 225 265 240 286
Maine $11,387 226 270 242 286
Pennsylvania $11,098 226 268 244 286
Hawaii $11,060 213 251 234 269
New Hamp $10,723 229 270 249 288
Wisconsin $10,267 223 264 244 286
Virginia $10,210 227 267 244 288
Michigan $9,912 220 260 238 277
Ohio $9,799 226 268 245 285
West Virginia $9,611 215 255 236 270
Illinois $9,555 219 263 237 280
Minnesota $9,539 225 268 247 292
California $9,152 209 251 230 270
Nebraska $9,141 223 267 238 284
Georgia $9,127 219 259 235 275
Montana $9,078 227 271 244 287
North Dakota $9,022 226 268 245 292
Oregon $9,000 215 266 236 284
Kansas $8,988 225 267 248 290
Indiana $8,938 222 264 245 285
Louisiana $8,928 207 253 230 272
Iowa $8,769 225 267 243 285
New Mexico $8,635 212 251 228 268
South Carolina $8,533 214 257 237 282
Missouri $8,529 221 263 239 281
Florida $8,514 224 260 242 277
Alabama $8,391 216 252 229 266
Washington $8,377 224 265 243 285
Kentucky $8,309 222 262 235 279
Arkansas $8,284 217 258 238 274
Colorado $8,167 224 266 240 286
Nevada $7,993 211 252 232 271
South Dakota $7,944 223 270 241 288
North Carolina $7,883 218 259 242 284
Texas $7,818 220 261 242 286
Mississippi $7,473 208 250 228 265
Oklahoma $7,420 217 260 237 275
Arizona $7,196 210 255 232 276
Tennessee $7,113 216 259 233 274
Idaho $6,625 223 265 241 284
Utah $5,683 221 262 239 281
Corr. Coefficient N/A 0.253 0.198 0.199 0.105
Note: Scores are scale scores from the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress tests of 4th and 8th grade reading and math. PPE is the per pupil expenditure listed in the Census publication “Public Education Finances, 2007” released July 2009.