What percentage of public school funding in Colorado comes from the federal government?
Data updated December 17, 2024
About 10.5% or 1 in 9 dollars of public school funding, during the 2021-22 school year. As with most schools nationwide, Colorado 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.
Showing data for
10.5%
of public school funding came from federal sources, 2021-22 school year
$1.7K
federal funding of K-12 public schools per student, 2021-22 school year
During the 2021-22 school year, Colorado schools received a lower share of funding from federal sources compared with the US average (13.7%).
During the 2021-22 school year, public schools in Colorado received 10.5% of funding from the federal government.
Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources
In all, public schools in Colorado received $1.5 billion, or $1,726 in federal funds per student. That’s 31.9% lower than the national average of $2,536 per student.
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During the 2021-22 school year, public schools in Colorado received $1.7K 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 179 school districts in Colorado, the Fountain School District 8 in the Colorado Springs, CO area received 37.4% of its funds from the federal government during the 2021-22 school year, more than any other in the state. The Aspen School District 1 received the smallest share at 1.5%.
Federal funding made up 1.5% to 37.4% of Colorado school district budgets in 2021-22.
Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources
Denver County School District 1 received 12.8% of its 2021-22 funding from federal sources, the highest among Colorado’s 10 largest school districts. The Denver County School District 1 also had the highest federal funding in the group. It received $2,540 per student. The Boulder Valley School District RE-2 had the lowest share at 6.0% or $1,116 per student.
The 10 largest school districts in Colorado based on 2021-22 enrollment.
1. | Denver County School District 1 | 12.8% |
2. | Adams-Arapahoe School District 28J | 12.4% |
3. | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | 9.8% |
4. | St. Vrain Valley School District RE 1J | 9.2% |
5. | Cherry Creek School District 5 | 8.1% |
6. | Jefferson County School District R-1 | 7.8% |
7. | Poudre School District R-1 | 7.0% |
8. | Academy School District 20 | 6.9% |
9. | Douglas County School District RE-1 | 6.4% |
10. | Boulder Valley School District RE-2 | 6.0% |
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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.
National Center for Education Statistics
Common Core of Data and Digest of Education Statistics