Spending by function
lunenburgbudgetproject.org — written by the Lunenburg Budget Project, an independent tool for residents. Not affiliated with the Town of Lunenburg, the School Committee or the school district. The data this page is computed from: /data/topics/spending-by-function.json
Lunenburg was in the state’s bottom quarter on 7 of 10 DESE spending categories in FY2025.
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Pupil services: athletics | 122.8% |
| Other teaching services | 99.0% |
| Insurance, retirement and other | 91.3% |
| Guidance, counselling and testing | 83.9% |
| Pupil services: buses | 81.9% |
| Teachers | 81.4% |
| Instructional leadership | 77.7% |
| Administration | 74.0% |
| Pupil services: other student activities | 73.1% |
| Pupil services: nurses and health | 72.2% |
| Pupil services: food service | 71.8% |
| Operations and maintenance | 68.2% |
| Materials and technology | 36.1% |
| Professional development | 27.9% |
Lunenburg’s figure a pupil as a share of each state median, our division. Pupil services shown by its own codes. Marked: bottom quarter.
1 · The facts
7 of 10
DESE categories in the bottom quarter, FY2025
$48
professional development, a pupil
$172
its state median
$226
materials, equipment and technology, a pupil
$626
its state median
$6,513
teachers, a pupil
$8,000
its state median
$2,010
other teaching services, a pupil
$2,031
its state median
162 of 317
other teaching services, rank
2 · What it shows
- 1
Professional development was $48 a pupil against a median of $172; 25 districts spent less.
- 2
Materials, equipment and technology was $226 against $626; 13 districts spent less.
- 3
Teachers was $6,513 against $8,000. Other teaching services, $2,010 against $2,031, sat nearest its median.
| Lunenburg | State median | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Development | $48 | $172 | 292 of 317 |
| Instructional Materials, Equipment and Technology | $226 | $626 | 304 of 317 |
| Operations and Maintenance | $1,253 | $1,838 | 288 of 318 |
| Pupil services: Food Services | $480 | $669 | 287 of 310 |
| Pupil services: Medical/Health Services | $195 | $270 | 271 of 314 |
| Pupil services: Other Student Activities | $80 | $110 | 177 of 288 |
| Administration | $581 | $785 | 261 of 318 |
| Instructional Leadership | $1,109 | $1,428 | 250 of 317 |
| Pupil Services | $1,908 | $2,415 | 263 of 317 |
| Teachers | $6,513 | $8,000 | 293 of 317 |
| Pupil services: Transportation Services | $787 | $961 | 212 of 315 |
| Guidance, Counseling and Testing | $677 | $806 | 226 of 316 |
| Insurance, Retirement Programs and Other | $3,459 | $3,788 | 204 of 318 |
| Other Teaching Services | $2,010 | $2,031 | 162 of 317 |
| Pupil services: Athletics | $366 | $298 | 90 of 268 |
| Pupil services: Attendance and Parent Liaison Services | none reported | $34 | — |
| Pupil services: School Security | none reported | $52 | — |
Each function over in-district FTE pupils, as DESE computes it; rank is highest spending first. Pupil services rows: each of its function codes against the districts that report it. All funds, after the year closed.
What was said
“Teachers have learned to spend school budgeted money at the start of the y ear otherwise they and their students are penalized because a frozen budget in November means an inability to purchase needed materia ls later in the school year. Teachers and parents donate supplies”
“The North Middlesex superintendent reached out to me about potentially sharing resources as we have done in the past. Professional development with north Middlesex, they were looking for other opportunities to share resources”