WHAT WE FOUND

• In FY24, the state spent $7.7 billion to fund Virginia’s constitutionally mandated K–12 standards of quality (SOQ). This equates to an average of $6,365 for each of the state’s 1.2 million elementary and secondary school students.

• FY24 total state SOQ spending was 3 percent more than FY23 spending.

• Recent spending increases have been offset by inflation, which has outpaced state SOQ spending during the last three years.

• Fairfax County has by far the most K–12 students and received the most SOQ funds, $838 million, in FY24.

• Buena Vista, which has relatively low local ability to pay, received the most state SOQ funds per student, $9,436.

• Arlington County, which is among the localities with the highest local ability to pay, received the least state SOQ funds per student, $3,418.