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

Refreshed annually
About 18.5% or 9 in 50 dollars of Tennessee public school funding came from the federal government during the 2022–23 school year. As with most schools nationwide, Tennessee 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.

18.5%

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

$2.63K

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, Tennessee 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 Tennessee received 18.5% of funding from the federal government.

Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources

In all, public schools in Tennessee received $2.65 billion, or $2,558 in federal funds per student. That's 3% higher than the national average of $2,233 per student.

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During the 2022–23 school year, public schools in Tennessee received $2,635 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 141 school districts in Tennessee, the Newport City School District outside of metro areas received 35.1% of its funds from the federal government during the 2022–23 school year, more than any other in the state. The Williamson County School District in the Nashville, TN area received the smallest share at 3.2%.

Federal funding made up 3.2% to 35.1% of Tennessee school district budgets in 2022–23.

Share of public school district revenue coming from federal sources

Shelby County School District received 32.5% of its 2022–23 funding from federal sources, the highest among Tennessee's 10 largest school districts. The Shelby County School District also had the highest federal funding in the group at $5,154 per student. The Williamson County School District had the lowest share at 3.2% or $487 per student.

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

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

Shelby County School District

32.5%
2.

Hamilton County School District

17.5%
3.

Metropolitan Nashville Public School District

17.4%
4.

Clarksville-Montgomery County School System

13.8%
5.

Knox County School District

13%
6.

Sevier County School District

12.8%
7.

Sumner County School District

10.2%
8.

Rutherford County School District

9.8%
9.

Wilson County School District

8.3%
10.

Williamson County School District

3.2%

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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.