What percentage of public school funding in comes from the federal government?

Updated Apr. 24, 2026Refreshed annually
About 17.5% or 1 in 6 dollars of Alabama public school funding came from the federal government during the 2022–23 school year. As with most schools nationwide, Alabama received more funding from local or state governments than it did from federal sources. The totals differ by district, depending on factors such as student demographics (like poverty levels), availability of state and local revenues, and whether a district is urban, suburban, or rural.

17.5%

of public school funding came from federal sources, 2022–23 school year

$2.71K

federal funding of K-12 public schools per student, 2022–23 school year
During the 2022–23 school year, the latest year data was available, Alabama schools received a higher share of funding from federal sources compared with the US average (12.9%).

During the 2022–23 school year, public schools in Alabama received 17.5% of funding from the federal government.

Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources

Ask the data
Beta

We use AI to summarize the data, charts, and analysis we have on USAFacts

In all, public schools in Alabama received $2.03 billion, or $2,558 in federal funds per student. That's 5.8% higher than the national average of $2,233 per student.

Get weekly insights

Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.

During the 2022–23 school year, public schools in Alabama received $2,706 per student from the federal government.

Public school district revenue per student coming from federal sources

Most federal public school funds are allocated based on formulas based on factors such as poverty status or a district’s rural location. Federal programs for schools include:
  • Child nutrition programs: Administered by the Department of Agriculture, this includes National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
  • Education for the disadvantaged: Also known as Title I, the federal government provides additional funds to schools with relatively high concentration of low-income students.
  • Special education: According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, the federal government is authorized though not mandated to supply 40% of special education funds.
Among 138 school districts in Alabama, the Barbour County School District outside of metro areas received 49.6% of its funds from the federal government during the 2022–23 school year, more than any other in the state. The Mountain Brook City School District in the Birmingham, AL area received the smallest share at 2.2%.

Federal funding made up 2.2% to 49.6% of Alabama school district budgets in 2022–23.

Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources

Montgomery County School District received 30.7% of its 2022–23 funding from federal sources, the highest among Alabama's 10 largest school districts. The Birmingham City School District had the highest federal funding in the group, it received $5,432 per student. The Shelby County School District had the lowest share at 7.1% or $1,106 per student.

The 10 largest school districts in the Alabama based on 2022–23 enrollment.

The 10 largest school districts in the Alabama based on 2022–23 enrollment.
1.

Montgomery County School District

30.7%
2.

Birmingham City School District

28.3%
3.

Mobile County School District

23.9%
4.

Jefferson County School District

16.7%
5.

Huntsville City School District

13.9%
6.

Tuscaloosa County School District

13.6%
7.

Madison County School District

10.7%
8.

Limestone County School District

9.7%
9.

Baldwin County School District

8.8%
10.

Shelby County School District

7.1%

Keep exploring

Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.