NM education spending fails to improve results

We at the Rio Grande Foundation may sound like a broken record repeatedly highlighting the disconnect between New Mexico’s education spending and the results of its education system.

Sadly, according to data from Statista (linked and below), New Mexico now spends an astonishing $15,338 per-student on K-12. That is the 19th-highest among states and in excess of our neighbors. According to this same chart, both Arizona and Mississippi spend approximately 2/3rds the amount New Mexico spends per-student.

But, as the charts below that show both Mississippi and Arizona have dramatically moved the “needle” on education results including the all-important 4th-grade reading (according to the latest NAEP results).

The case is clear. Arizona and Mississippi are reforming their systems and improving results. New Mexico is spending more money and, if anything, seeing worse results.