America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Purchasing Power, 2022 Edition

How well are America’s private school choice programs funded? In this post, we rank the nation’s educational choice programs by purchasing power based on data in the 2022 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.

To rank programs by purchasing power, we compare each program’s most recent per-pupil spending to the state’s (plus D.C.’s and Puerto Rico’s) average per-pupil spending in public schools. For context, we’ve also given the actual dollar amount each program’s students receive, on average. Given all the new programs created in 2021 that have not yet launched, it is important to note that this list ranks programs that have actually distributed funds to families by the time of writing.

We determine these rankings by comparing school choice programs’ funding with states’ total expenditures per pupil, which includes all the same variables as current expenditures (think of things like teachers’ salaries, supplies and benefits) plus lots of other items it takes to run a school (such as building expenses, capital and debt payments). There are several reasons for this comparison. For one, private schools like public schools also have to spend money on things other than salaries and supplies in order to educate their students. Additionally, state legislators and policy activists interested in school choice programs are often interested in the total costs or savings of these programs, especially when compared to the alternative of not passing them.

Note that the top programs in this list have per-pupil spending amounts that are higher than public school per-pupil spending in their jurisdictions. This is because they serve primarily or exclusively students with special needs, who tend to receive more educational funding in public schools as well. While choice students with special needs often receive a significant amount of purchasing power as compared to the average student in the state, we have not found a single choice program whose average funding amount eclipses the funding received by a similar category of students with special needs in a given state. If you’d like to see more program data or data updated after this post, please make sure to visit our School Choice in America Dashboard.

Without further ado, here are your 2021 school choice program rankings by purchasing power.

1. Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program (1)
Voucher | 156% of average per-pupil spending in Ohio public schools | $23,472

2. Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (2)
ESA | 147% of average per-pupil spending in Arizona public schools | $14,543

3. Wisconsin’s Special Needs Scholarship Program (5)
Voucher | 97% of average per-pupil spending in Wisconsin public schools | $13,851

4. Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (3)
ESA | 96% of average per-pupil spending in Florida public schools | $10,267

5. North Carolina’s Personal Education Savings Accounts (4)
ESA | 88% of average per-pupil spending in North Carolina public schools | $8,926

6. New Hampshire’s Town Tuitioning Program (6)
Voucher | 79% of average per-pupil spending in New Hampshire public schools | $14,000

7. Oklahoma’s Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities (7)
Voucher | 77% of average per-pupil spending in Oklahoma public schools | $7,056

8. Florida’s John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program (12)
Voucher | 70% of average per-pupil spending in Florida public schools | $7,549

9. North Carolina’s Special Education Scholarship Grants for Children with Disabilities (14)
Voucher | 70% of average per-pupil spending in North Carolina public schools | $7,097

10. Ohio’s Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program (8)
Voucher | 69% of average per-pupil spending in Ohio public schools |$9,887

T11. Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarships for Educational Options (23)
Voucher | 68% of average per-pupil spending in Florida public schools | $7,300

T11. Florida’s Hope Scholarship Program (12)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 68% of average per-pupil spending in Florida public schools | $7,300

13. Vermont’s Town Tuitioning Program (9)
Voucher | 68% of average per-pupil spending in Vermont public schools | $14,313

14. Maine’s Town Tuitioning Program (8)
Voucher | 67% of average per-pupil spending in Maine public schools | $10,838

15. Tennessee’s Individualized Education Account Program (13)
ESA | 66% of average per-pupil spending in Tennessee public schools | $7,068

16. Wisconsin’s Racine Parental Choice Program (20)
Voucher | 60% of average per-pupil spending in Wisconsin public schools | $8,509

17. Nevada’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program (28)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 59% of average per-pupil spending in Nevada public schools | $6,474

18. Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (21)
Voucher | 59% of average per-pupil spending in Wisconsin public schools | $8,502

19. Wisconsin’s Statewide Parental Choice Program (19)
Voucher | 59% of average per-pupil spending in Wisconsin public schools | $8,495

20. Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program (17)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 59% of average per-pupil spending in Florida public schools | $6,239

21. Mississippi’s Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Program (18)
ESA | 58% of average per-pupil spending in Mississippi public schools | $5,606

22. Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program (22)
Voucher | 57% of average per-pupil spending in Georgia public schools | $6,838

23. South Carolina’s Refundable Educational Credit for Exceptional Needs Children (29)
Individual Tax Credit | 57% of average per-pupil spending in South Carolina public schools | $7,353

24. Arkansas’s Succeed Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities (25)
Voucher | 54% of average per-pupil spending in Florida public schools | $6,325

25. Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program (24)
Voucher | 54% of average per-pupil spending in Florida public schools | $5,236

26. Arizona’s Lexie’s Law Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program (26)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 51% of average per-pupil spending in Arizona public schools | $5,049

27. Louisiana Scholarship Program (27)
Voucher | 50% of average per-pupil spending in Louisiana public schools | $6,325

28. Alabama’s Education Scholarship Program (15)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 44% of average per-pupil spending in Alabama public schools | $6,435

29. Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program (32)
Voucher | 46% of average per-pupil spending in Indiana public schools | $4,781

30. Illinois’s Invest in Kids Program (33)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 41% of average per-pupil spending in Illinois public schools | $7,132

31. North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarships (35)
Voucher | 41% of average per-pupil spending in North Carolina public schools | $4,079

32. Louisiana’s Elementary and Secondary School Tuition Deduction (31)
Individual Tax Credit | 40% of average per-pupil spending in Louisiana public schools | $5,069

33. Georgia’s Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit (35)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 37% of average per-pupil spending in Georgia public schools | $4,465

34. Kansas’s Low-Income Students Scholarship Program (46)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 37% of average per-pupil spending in Kansas public schools | $4,894

35. Mississippi’s Nate Rogers Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program (37)
Voucher | 35% of average per-pupil spending in Mississippi public schools | $3,408

36. Ohio’s Cleveland Scholarship Program (38)
Voucher | 35% of average per-pupil spending in Ohio public schools | $5,012

37. Utah’s Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship Program (16)
Voucher | 35% of average per-pupil spending in Utah public schools | $3,249

38. Wisconsin’s K–12 Private School Tuition Deduction (41)
Individual Tax Deduction | 34% of average per-pupil spending in Wisconsin public schools | $4,912

39. Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program (39)
Voucher | 34% of average per-pupil spending in Ohio public schools | $4,912

40. District of Columbia’s Opportunity Scholarship Program (40)
Voucher | 34% of average per-pupil spending in D.C. public schools | $10,095

41. Puerto Rico’s Free School Selection Program (36)
Voucher | 34% of average per-pupil spending in Puerto Rico public schools | $2,276

42. Louisiana’s Tuition Donation Credit Program (44)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 33% of average per-pupil spending in Louisiana public schools | $4,209

43. Arizona’s Low-Income Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program (45)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 30% of average per-pupil spending in Arizona public schools | $2,928

44. South Carolina’s Educational Credit for Exceptional Needs Children (30)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 29% of average per-pupil spending in South Carolina public schools | $3,751

45. Ohio’s Income-Based Scholarship Program (43)
Voucher | 29% of average per-pupil spending in Ohio public schools | $4,137

46. Alabama Accountability Act of 2013 Parent-Taxpayer Refundable Tax Credits (42)
Individual Tax Credit | 28% of average per-pupil spending in Alabama public schools | $2,989

47. Oklahoma’s Equal Opportunity Education Scholarships (48)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 22% of average per-pupil spending in Oklahoma public schools | $2,017

48. New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account Program (NR)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 21% of average per-pupil spending in Oklahoma public schools | $3,787

49. Virginia Educational Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credits (47)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 21% of average per-pupil spending in Virginia public schools | $2,805

50. Indiana’s School Scholarship Tax Credit (50)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 21% of average per-pupil spending in Indiana public schools | $2,346

51. Louisiana’s School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities (49)
Voucher | 20% of average per-pupil spending in Louisiana public schools | $2,491

52. Arizona’s Original Individual Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program (51)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 20% of average per-pupil spending in Arizona public schools | $1,947

53. South Dakota’s Partners in Education Tax Credit Program (52)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 16% of average per-pupil spending in South Dakota public schools | $1,978

54. Maryland’s Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program (55)
Voucher | 16% of average per-pupil spending in Maryland public schools | $2,806

55. New Hampshire’s Education Tax Credit Program (54)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 16% of average per-pupil spending in New Hampshire public schools | $2,882

56. Indiana’s Private School/Homeschool Deduction (53)
Individual Tax Deduction | 16% of average per-pupil spending in Indiana public schools | $1,817

57. Arizona’s “Switcher” Individual Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program (53)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 15% of average per-pupil spending in Arizona public schools | $1,473

58. Rhode Island’s Tax Credits for Contributions to Scholarship Organizations (58)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 14% of average per-pupil spending in Rhode Island public schools | $2,514

59. Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (59)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 11% of average per-pupil spending in Pennsylvania public schools | $1,990

60. Pennsylvania’s Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (57)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 11% of average per-pupil spending in Pennsylvania public schools | $1,983

61. Iowa’s School Tuition Organization Tax Credit (60)
Tax-Credit Scholarship | 10% of average per-pupil spending in Iowa public schools | $1,463

62. Minnesota’s Education Deduction (61)
Individual Tax Deduction | 7% of average per-pupil spending in Minnesota public schools | $1,178

63. Illinois’s Tax Credits for Educational Expenses (63)
Individual Tax Credit | 2% of average per-pupil spending in Illinois public schools | $324

64. Minnesota’s K–12 Education Credit (62)
Individual Tax Credit | 1% of average per-pupil spending in Minnesota public schools | $257

64. Iowa’s Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit (63)
Individual Tax Credit | <1% of average per-pupil spending in Iowa public schools | $133

Not ranked:
Montana Tax Credits for Contributions to Student Scholarship Organizations
Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program