New Yorkers' spending on public schools is second-highest in the country, according to new statistics published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

As of 2003-04, New York schools spent an average of $12,930 per pupil. That was 56 percent above the national average of $8,287, and virtually tied with New Jersey, which spent $12,981.

Per pupil spending in New York increased 7 percent between the 2002-03 school year and the 2003-04 school year. The national average was 3 percent.

The data also show that, despite criticism that the state does not contribute enough funding to schools, New York’s schools received $6,269 per pupil in revenue from state sources in 2003-04. That amount was 6th highest in the nation and 38 percent above the national average.

New York’s schools received 66 percent more revenue from local sources than the national average. Per-pupil revenue from local sources was $7,039, 66 percent above the national average, and the third highest in the country.

New York's spending on instructional salaries and benefits is far higher, on a per-pupil basis, than that in any other state -- 17 percent higher than second-place New Jersey, and 75 percent above the national average. If New York's average spending on instructional salaries and benefits were only as high as New Jersey's, taxpayers would save more than $3.7 billion.

The Census Bureau report is available at www.census.gov/govs/www/school04.html.

The table below shows per-pupil figures for current spending (not including capital expenditures), and the two major sources of school districts' revenues.