District profile / California
Los Angeles Unified
408,026
Students
2024-25 school year
784
Schools
2024-25 school year
$18,180
Spending per student
FY2020-21 · 32% above the California median
19.2
Students per teacher
2024-25 · California median 21.7
Los Angeles Unified is a public school district based in Los Angeles, California, serving 408,026 students in 784 schools. By enrollment it ranks #1 of the 554 California districts with 1,000 or more students, making it the largest in the state. Its schools average 520 students each, about the same as the California median of 533. Its superintendent is Andres Chait. It spends about $18,180 per student on day-to-day operations, 32% more than the California median. It has roughly 19.2 students per teacher. We've matched 83 news stories to the district.
How Los Angeles compares
Los AngelesCalifornia median, districts with 1,000+ students
Spending and staffing
Where the money comes from$11.11 billion in revenue · FY2020-21
Federal 19%State 52%Local 30%
| Measure | Los Angeles | California median | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current spending per student | $18,180 | $13,724 | FY2020-21 |
| Instruction spending per student | $10,062 | $8,321 | FY2020-21 |
| Total spending | $9.90 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Total revenue | $11.11 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Teachers (full-time equivalent) | 21,246 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Total staff (full-time equivalent) | 55,601 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Students per teacher | 19.2 | 21.7 | 2024-25 |
| Students per counselor | 215 | 474 | 2024-25 |
Spending: NCES school district finance survey (F-33), FY2020-21. Staffing and enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25. Via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. The California median compares districts with 1,000 or more students.
Leadership
Moves tracker →Andres Chait
Source: California Department of Education, School Directory, checked 2026-11-09. Report a change
In the news
83 stories matchedBudget & finance
LAUSD parents, staff to rally against budget cuts
Budget & finance
LAUSD families protest $10M in planned charter school budget cuts
Technology & AI
How will LAUSD respond to Google’s AI mandate? You can weigh in
Teaching & learning
Valley Bride Swaps Wedding Cake for LAUSD's Cult-Favorite Coffee Cake
Teaching & learning
LAUSD uses a point system to manage waitlist for coveted magnet schools. Is it equitable?
Infrastructure
Beyond the Forecast: LAUSD works to prepare more than 900 campuses for strong El Niño year
Leadership
‘Go out and change the world’: Students find confidence, community at LAUSD’s single-sex schools
Budget & finance
Voters will decide whether LAUSD elections require tighter campaign finance rules
Policy & legislation
Charter Amendment SC: What LAUSD voters need to know
Technology & AI
LAUSD blocks AI tools
Teaching & learning
LAUSD students achieve highest-ever state testing scores in English, math and science
Budget & finance
LAUSD’s fiscal train wreck is the best reason to vote ‘No’ on Prop. 3
Policy & legislation
Letters to the Editor: LAUSD’s lack of transparency and accountability is deeply troubling
Policy & legislation
Canoga Park High Teachers Broke Civil Rights Law, LAUSD Probe Finds
Teaching & learning
LAUSD Student to Receive $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship in Surprise Award
Infrastructure
Mirama Campus, $34M LAUSD School Abandoned for 5 Years Facing Hefty Costs
Teaching & learning
LAUSD finds high school teachers created ‘hostile environment’ for Jewish, Israeli students
Teaching & learning
LAUSD at 'High Risk' for Insolvency, State Group Warns
Infrastructure
Vacant and vandalized, this $34-million LAUSD campus could be a sign of what’s to come
Teaching & learning
LAUSD Math Scores, 3 Out of 5 Students Fail State Standards
Infrastructure
Have opinions on school closures? LAUSD adds meetings to get community input
Leadership
LAUSD’s insane priorities: Lavish union deals, fewer school cops and bullies running wild
School safety
LAUSD Student Fights Up 21% Over Four Years, Data Shows
Infrastructure
Contributor: If LAUSD must consolidate schools, it should also integrate them
Technology & AI
A Brand New Window: The Future Of Technology In LAUSD Classroom Settings
School safety
Critics: Violence remains big problem in Los Angeles schools
Teaching & learning
Move Carson students from LA Unified to Compton Unified? The numbers say yes
Teaching & learning
Van Nuys Airport Welcomes Over 750+ Los Angeles Unified School District Students for 2026 Aviation Career Day
Teaching & learning
Crisis team: Los Angeles schools face risk of insolvency
Peer districts in California
Compare side by side →| District | Students | Schools | Spending per student | Students per teacher | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles UnifiedLos Angeles · this district | 408,026 | 784 | $18,180 | 19.2 | #1 |
| San Diego UnifiedSan Diego | 95,175 | 175 | $15,976 | 23.0 | #2 |
| Fresno UnifiedFresno | 68,131 | 101 | $15,565 | 19.3 | #3 |
| Elk Grove UnifiedElk Grove | 63,421 | 67 | $12,179 | 22.7 | #4 |
| Long Beach UnifiedLong Beach | 62,644 | 82 | $13,498 | 23.7 | #5 |
Similar-size districts nationally
| District | Students | Spending per student | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County Public SchoolsMiami, FL | 333,233 | $11,231 | 19.4 |
| Chicago Public SchoolsChicago, IL | 324,130 | $18,216 | 13.8 |
| Clark County School DistrictLas Vegas, NV | 306,038 | $10,118 | 18.6 |
| Broward County Public SchoolsFort Lauderdale, FL | 243,553 | $10,362 | 21.7 |
Peers are the districts closest in enrollment, so they can still differ in many other ways. Enrollment, school counts and phone numbers are from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25.
Printed from Superintendent's Corner: https://superintendentscorner.com/district-ca-los-angeles-unified