as part of the annual DESE End-of-Year Financial Report and is subject to an annual independent audit, which assures that each school district accurately and consistently portrays revenues and expenditures. Newton’s total FY24 expenditure per pupil of $25,648 ranks Fourth overall among the fifteen communities shown in the chart and is exceeded by Weston - at $29,761, Wellesley- $28,401 and Brookline - $26,683. Communities with a lower FY24 spending per pupil as compared to Newton include Waltham, Watertown, Burlington, Dedham, Needham, Framingham, Wayland, Lexington, Natick, Arlington and Belmont. (listed in ranked order). Newton’s expenditure per pupil has increased steadily over the years from FY14 to FY24, as has the Massachusetts state average. The following graphic provides history of the per pupil expenditure for Newton Public Schools compared to the Massachusetts average since FY14.
Source: MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education Newton also looks to gain insight into per pupil spending comparisons with nearby and/or similar communities by further breaking down per pupil expenditures into categories such as teaching, administration, and professional development. An examination of the spending by comparison communities in different functional expenditure categories is presented in detail in the table on the next page. Key observations are summarized below. Newton’s expenditures in four of ten categories are higher than or equal to its relative rank (fourth) in spending. Newton’s spending on Other Teaching Services (including aides, substitutes, librarians and medical/therapeutic positions) is the highest of all comparison districts. This year, Newton’s ranked fourth in Professional Development, Guidance Counseling & Testing, and Ins. Retire & Other. Newton’s expenditures in six of ten categories are lower than its overall rank of fourth among all fifteen communities. For example, Newton’s lowest rank is eleventh in Administration and Pupil Services, eighth in Instructional Leadership and Teachers, and seventh in Operations & Maintenance.
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