The original question was posed as follows: "How much, if any, of your own money did you spend on items for school, classroom or student use over the past year?"
Poverty levels are determined by NCES definitions of high- and low-poverty schools, based on the percentage of students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch.
Low poverty = 0-25% eligible for free/reduced-price lunch;
Mid-low poverty 26-50% eligible for free/reduced-price lunch;
Mid-high poverty 51-75% eligible for free/reduced-price lunch;
High poverty 76%+ eligible for free/reduced-price lunch.
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Average money spent by teachers for school, classroom or student use in the U.S.
This statistic shows the average amount of own money spent by teachers for school, classroom or student use in the United States in 2016, distinguished by school poverty level. In 2016, teachers from high poverty schools spent an average of 672 U.S. dollars of their own money on items for school, classroom and student use.
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Scholastic Inc.. (November 30, 2016). Average amount of own money spent by teachers for school, classroom or student use in the U.S. in 2016, by school poverty level [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/649929/average-own-money-spent-by-teachers-for-school-classroom-or-student-use/
Scholastic Inc.. "Average amount of own money spent by teachers for school, classroom or student use in the U.S. in 2016, by school poverty level." Chart. November 30, 2016. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/649929/average-own-money-spent-by-teachers-for-school-classroom-or-student-use/
Scholastic Inc.. (2016). Average amount of own money spent by teachers for school, classroom or student use in the U.S. in 2016, by school poverty level. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/649929/average-own-money-spent-by-teachers-for-school-classroom-or-student-use/
Scholastic Inc.. "Average Amount of Own Money Spent by Teachers for School, Classroom or Student Use in The U.S. in 2016, by School Poverty Level." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 30 Nov 2016, /statistics/649929/average-own-money-spent-by-teachers-for-school-classroom-or-student-use/
Scholastic Inc., Average amount of own money spent by teachers for school, classroom or student use in the U.S. in 2016, by school poverty level ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/649929/average-own-money-spent-by-teachers-for-school-classroom-or-student-use/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Average amount of own money spent by teachers for school, classroom or student use in the U.S. in 2016, by school poverty level [Graph], Scholastic Inc., November 30, 2016. [Online]. Available: /statistics/649929/average-own-money-spent-by-teachers-for-school-classroom-or-student-use/
