1. We begin by continuing our summary of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of School System Finances, which reports revenue, spending and debt for public school systems nationwide. Using fiscal year 2024 data, we compare per-pupil spending among the ten largest districts in the five largest states.
Across these 50 districts, there are substantial differences in per-pupil spending between states. All ten of New York's largest districts spend more than $25,000 per pupil, while none of the ten largest districts in Texas or Florida exceeds $16,000. We start with California:
Next up is Texas:
Further below, we list Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.
2. Burbio's MCP allows clients to access their custom data through AI interfaces using simple prompts and customized reports. Clients can also combine Burbio data with their own information to generate timely insights. In the following example, we combined Burbio's Checkbook Register Database with our Superintendent Turnover Tracker to identify customers of two K–12 suppliers, Raptor Technologies and McGraw Hill, experiencing leadership changes. Each district below has been a customer of the respective supplier for at least the past 12 months.
Recent leadership changes for Raptor customers:
- Spartanburg District 5, SC, superintendent retires December 31, 2026, and the board is conducting a search.
- Lower Merion School District, PA, will lose its superintendent at the end of April 2027 following a resignation announced in October.
- Washington Township School District, NJ, board voted in September 2026 not to renew its superintendent's contract.
- Clover School District, SC, promoted its chief student services officer to superintendent on October 26, 2026.
- San Luis Coastal Unified, CA, hired the Pajaro Valley Unified superintendent to start July 1, 2027.
And for McGraw Hill customers:
- South Bend Community School Corporation, IN, announced in October 2026 that its superintendent will retire June 30, 2027.
- Hutchinson Public Schools, KS, is searching for a successor to its superintendent, who retires at the end of the 2026–27 school year.
- St. Tammany Parish, LA, named an interim superintendent October 1, 2026, following its superintendent's retirement.
- DeKalb County School District, GA, confirmed its interim superintendent as permanent in October 2026.
- Cape Girardeau Public Schools, MO, named its deputy superintendent in August 2026 to succeed the retiring superintendent after the 2026–27 school year.
3. With school bonds on ballots across the country this Tuesday, it's worth examining how early architects enter the construction process. Burbio's Construction and Signals Trackers identify districts engaging architectural firms, often well before voters approve funding or construction bids are issued. Recent examples illustrate their roles at different stages:
- Engaging architects ahead of bond votes: North Clackamas SD, OR, approved up to $22 million in architectural and engineering contracts before its November vote on a $245 million bond. Mercer Island SD, WA, engaged architects for concepts and cost estimates during bond planning and is considering a February 2027 bond.
- Shaping long-range facilities plans: East Whittier City Elementary, CA, is updating its facilities planning policy to address building conditions, enrollment, and instructional needs. Jenkintown SD, PA, considered an architectural proposal for a feasibility study and master plan addressing building improvements, space needs, and potential property acquisition.
- Assessing facilities before defining projects: West Geauga Local, OH, selected a preferred design firm from nine applicants for a facilities assessment, pending contract negotiations. Bellville ISD, TX, outlined procurement for a facilities assessment and master plan targeted for completion in February 2027.
- Moving projects into design: Gaston County Schools, NC, selected an architect to design replacement baseball press boxes and concessions buildings at two high schools, recently expanding the scope. Bremerton SD, WA, approved a $106,379 architectural contract for construction documents related to relocating Renaissance High School.
4. Continuing our analysis of census data, below is the data for the ten largest districts in Florida:
Now New York:
We finish this week with Pennsylvania: