It is always great to reach some of the highest spots when it comes to state rankings, but the same can’t be said when the opposite happens. As you know, there are several rankings across the state, and recently, Tennessee residents discovered that the state ranks lowest in spending on public school students. Naturally, this upset many citizens, as some believe the government should spend more on its public education system. However, others believe that the funds don’t really matter, as long as the students give their all regardless of where they study.
The original report comes from WSMV4, which shared that Tennessee had recently ranked the lowest in public school spending. According to the report, the spending cost per public school student has been dropping since 2024, with the state spending around $12k in every student, which is too low compared to Washington, for example, where the spending budget reaches at least $34k.
Many believe that these costs are the cause of the whole school voucher debacle, which has divided Tennessee residents for a while. And while a lot of people are worried about the state ranking the lowest in this category, some other people don’t see a big issue here. There are a few Redditors who believe that the budget doesn’t make the student, and that those in school who give it their all can be at the top of the class, with or without funding.
Redditors Debate On Whether the Low Spending For Public Schools is Good or Bad
Usually, people tend to side on one thing only, and one would imagine that certain residents would be shocked at how the state ranked the lowest for spending on public school students. However, the truth of the matter is that this news sparked a discussion, with some people claiming this is bad, and others saying that good students don’t need the money.
“As a Tennessee teacher, I agree. Our per-pupil spending is atrocious, and far too much of what we do get is spent on useless administrators and endless testing.“
“Sounds about right.“
In contrast, others think that this is something unfortunate, but not too serious, as some students manage to overcome some challenges, even if the state isn’t spending a lot on them.
“Tennessee ranks 20th for public school quality. It ranked 3rd in math proficiency a few years ago. If we’re spending less and getting good results, I’m good with that.“
“Tennessee’s education system has demonstrated significant academic recovery and long-term improvement. What does it matter what we spend as long as the above trend continues?“
In the end, it seems that this is a divisive topic, but the majority believes that ranking in the lowest spot doesn’t look good for the state and its education system.
