Spending on New York City schools has become excessive
New York City is investing more money into its public schools even as enrollment decreases, as reported by a recent Citizens Budget Commission report, reaching a staggering $39,304 per student in Fiscal Year 2025.
Between Fiscal Year 2020 and 2023, enrollment in Department of Education schools dropped by approximately 10%, leading to a cost per student exceeding $37,000, with a slight increase in 2024 due to undocumented migrant children.
Notably, the class-size mandate influenced by the United Federation of Teachers is driving costs even higher, necessitating the hiring of an additional 17,000 teachers at a yearly expense of $1.9 billion —despite the fact that many lower-performing schools in the city already meet the mandate’s requirements, ultimately decreasing available spots in the higher-performing schools.
This situation is reminiscent of the old TV pitchman Crazy Eddie, whose prices were famously “INSane” due to fraudulent practices.
While Crazy Eddie promised low prices, the DOE’s expenses are excessively high, resulting in a decline in quality education. Additionally, the City Council is looking to increase education spending beyond what was agreed upon in the final budget negotiated with the Adams administration, which already boosts city spending by $2.1 billion to make up for the loss of $2.4 billion in federal COVID relief funding.
Despite the pandemic being over, the excessive spending on pandemic-related issues continues.
Furthermore, DOE test scores remain average at best, with no clear indication that increased spending will enhance the system’s performance.
It is unreasonable for taxpayers to continue paying billions for the same mediocre academic outcomes year after year.
Crazy Eddie was a popular figure in the ’70s and ’80s until his fraudulent activities were exposed. How long will it take for the city’s school system, increasingly plagued by scandals, to face a similar fate as a result of catering to special interests?
