The K-12 Funding Flow & Metrics map is an interactive data visualization designed to show all parts of American public school funding and outcomes across any state or county.
The tool lets you compare any two states or any two counties side-by-side: select a state, hit "Compare States," pick a second, and the sidebar splits to show both in parallel — per-pupil expenditure, Title I eligibility, teacher salary, free/reduced lunch rates, child health indicators, and more, with the same workflow applying at the county level.
Most of the data is drawn from authoritative federal sources, including NCES CCD as compiled by the Urban Institute, Census SAHIE, the CMS Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Report, ASCA School Counselor Data, and more.
A note on estimates: county-level per-pupil expenditure and enrollment figures are modeled, not directly reported — counties don't file finance surveys independently. These values are derived via a regression formula using the state's per-pupil expenditure as a base, adjusted by a local property wealth factor (Census median household income) and county population weight respectively. County Medicaid/CHIP rates are similarly estimated by adjusting the state base rate against the county-to-state poverty differential. Hover over any metric to see the exact source or formula used.
Feel free to ask me questions at jayanthg@stanford.edu!