For many students in the US, the ZIP code they live in can shape the quality of education they get.And while a lot of disparity can exist between wealthy suburbs and under-resourced urban school districts, differences can also show up dramatically when comparing education across US states.In 2024, US public schools received nearly $995 billion in funding, with state and local sources combined providing nearly 90% of the total, according to Census data. Nationwide, local governments provided $429.8 billion for primary and secondary education funding, while state governments provided $450 billion.Across the nation, public schools spent an average of $17,619 per enrolled student annually, though this figure varied widely by state.Some states, like New York, spent nearly twice the national average per student, while others, like Idaho, trailed the national average by thousands of dollars.While better-funded schools don't automatically translate into better-quality education, the resources a school can rely on for instructor pay and materials can tangibly impact students' education.To evaluate how much each state invests in its public school students, Business Insider looked at the US Census Bureau's latest Annual Survey of School System Finances, which covered the 2024 fiscal year.The ranking is based on the current spending per public school student listed in the survey data, which covers public pre-K through 12th grade and excludes non-current expenses, such as capital outlay and debt service.Student enrollment figures also come from Census data and reflect enrollment starting in the fall of 2023.To put this spending — which does not account for cost-of-living differences between states — in context with each state's local economy, we listed the median household income from the Census Bureau's latest American Community Survey, reflecting 2024 estimates.See how much each US state spends on public education per student, ranked from lowest amount to highest.