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 76 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 2026-10-19. Report a change
In the news
76 stories matchedTeaching & learning
Here’s what LAUSD is doing to prepare for the Super El Niño
Infrastructure
LAUSD prepares schools for possible El Niño storms
Teaching & learning
Cal State LA, LAUSD, and East Los Angeles College celebrate first GO East LA cohort’s journey from kindergarten to college readiness
Teaching & learning
From kindergarten to college, LAUSD's "GO East LA" promise builds a college bound culture
Teaching & learning
Behind the menu: How students really feel about LAUSD food
Teaching & learning
Woman Reaches Tentative $325K Accord With LAUSD
School safety
LAUSD settlement, Woman settles child sexual abuse lawsuit for $325K
Teaching & learning
LAUSD celebrates progress in student test scores, dashboard markers
Teaching & learning
Furious parents blast LAUSD for celebrating ‘dismal’ student test scores
Teaching & learning
LAUSD test scores rise, with math surpassing state average for first time
Teaching & learning
LAUSD students discover power of a simple hello
Infrastructure
The Great California ShakeOut drill offers preparedness for LAUSD campuses
Infrastructure
LAUSD Considers School Closures as Enrollment Continues to Decline
Infrastructure
LAUSD begins to make the case for school closures, with many questions yet to be answered
Teaching & learning
LAUSD approves developer for employee affordable housing in WeHo
Teaching & learning
Music nonprofit brings professional lessons to LAUSD students for free
Teaching & learning
LAUSD breaks ground on sports complex at Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets
Teaching & learning
LAUSD Affordable Housing Plan Adds 598 Apartments on 2 Sites
School safety
Another New Judge Appointed in Suits Over LAUSD Student Fentanyl Death
Infrastructure
Most LAUSD campuses have few tree canopies where students play. Parents want to change that
Teaching & learning
Map: See which Los Angeles County schools provide the most shade in outdoor student areas
Leadership
Meet LAUSD's new leader
Teaching & learning
LAUSD taps Affirmed Housing, West Hollywood Community Housing for affordable units
Teaching & learning
207 Apartments on Fairfax Could Put LAUSD Workers in WeHo Homes
Teaching & learning
Fewer Kids, More Payroll: LAUSD’s Math Problem
Technology & AI
Should LAUSD restrict generative AI? Here’s what experts and students say
School safety
L.A. Unified student’s death spurs protest against school bullying
Leadership
Los Angeles School Board Urged to Bringing Back Campus Police
School safety
Student fights, threats in schools higher than 4 years ago, LAUSD data shows
Budget & finance
LAUSD financial crisis
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