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

Refreshed annually
About 10.5% or 1 in 10 dollars of Illinois public school funding came from the federal government during the 2022–23 school year. As with most schools nationwide, Illinois 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.

10.5%

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

$2.6K

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, Illinois schools received a lower share of funding from federal sources compared with the US average (12.9%).

During the 2022–23 school year, public schools in Illinois received 10.5% of funding from the federal government.

Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources

In all, public schools in Illinois received $4.8 billion, or $2,558 in federal funds per student. That's 1.5% higher than the national average of $2,233 per student.

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During the 2022–23 school year, public schools in Illinois received $2,597 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 844 school districts in Illinois, the Grand Prairie Community Consolidated School District 6 outside of metro areas received 45.9% of its funds from the federal government during the 2022–23 school year, more than any other in the state. The Butler School District 53 in the Chicago, IL area received the smallest share at 0.61%.

Federal funding made up 0.61% to 45.9% of Illinois school district budgets in 2022–23.

Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources

Rockford School District 205 received 19% of its 2022–23 funding from federal sources, the highest among Illinois's 10 largest school districts. The Rockford School District 205 also had the highest federal funding in the group at $4,656 per student. The Naperville Community Unit District 203 had the lowest share at 3.4% or $865 per student.

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

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

Rockford School District 205

19%
2.

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60

14.8%
3.

School District U-46

11.6%
4.

Community Unit School District 300

7.5%
5.

Valley View Community Unit School District 365U

7.2%
6.

Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District 54

6.6%
7.

Plainfield School District 202

5.5%
8.

Oswego Community Unit School District 308

5.3%
9.

Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204

3.6%
10.

Naperville Community Unit District 203

3.4%

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Methodology

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

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.