New Mexico is a big-spender on K-12 education

According to the website World Population Review, New Mexico’s education spending has accelerated dramatically in recent years and the State now spends more than the national average. When you consider New Mexico’s  income levels New Mexico’s K-12 spending ranks 6th-most in the nation.  Good, timely information can be hard to find when it comes to education spending data. The Census Bureau doesn’t include everything and takes a long time to publish its data.

World Population Review (the site is worth a look) does a good job and has more timely data. According to them, in 2025 the United States average was $17,619 per pupil. New Mexico spent $17,844, so above the national average. When New Mexico’s income levels are factored in, New Mexico moves dramatically up the list spending 4.17% of its taxpayers’ income on K-12 education.

New Mexico spends vastly more per pupil than any of its neighbors for far worse results.

New Mexico spends: $17,844

Colorado: $15,897

Utah: $11,342

Arizona: $12,003

Texas: $12,444

Oklahoma: $12,162

Can New Mexico improve its dead-last student outcomes? We believe so, but more spending hasn’t done it in the past and won’t do it in the future. The answer is in bold reforms like Mississippi’s and broader school choice.