This term is used to describe how much a school district spends per student on average. It does not mean that every student participates in all of these activities or programs. It is simply a financial snapshot of all students across the district, and it can change from year to year due to things like new curriculum purchases and other costs.

Public schools serve each and every student who attends them. Services such as buses, meals, special education and health monitoring are all part of what public schools provide for students. In comparison, private and home schools may not offer the same range or level of services as public schools do. Some students who attend private schools receive services from public schools such as speech therapy, special reading or math help or other support.