Raleigh, NC - The Education Law Center recently released its “Making the Grade 2025” report, which assesses the condition of school funding across the nation. The report gives North Carolina failing grades in two of the three categories evaluated.
North Carolina received an “F” for funding level, which measures cost-adjusted per-pupil revenue from state and local sources. The state ranks second-to-last nationally (50th), spending approximately $5,600 less per student than the national average. The report also notes a decline in per-pupil investment, dropping from $12,252 in 2022 to $12,193 in 2023.
The state also earned an “F” for funding effort, which evaluates how much a state invests in PK–12 public education as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). North Carolina also ranked dead last nationally (51st) in this category, reflecting a consistently below-average commitment to funding public schools. This lack of effort is further underscored by the continued inaction of the North Carolina Supreme Court over the Leandro school funding case and the General Assembly’s failure to pass a State Budget and their year-after-year failure to adequately fund public schools or provide educators with meaningful raises.
Neighboring states—including Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia—all received higher overall grades than North Carolina.
"North Carolina’s failing grades reflect years of deliberate neglect," said Tamika Walker Kelly, NCAE President. "Lawmakers have refused to fully fund our public schools, denied educators meaningful raises, and the Supreme Court has allowed Leandro to languish. Our children cannot afford this continued failure of leadership.
