The Cost Of Back To School Shopping Has Reached An All-Time High

Author Marija

August 7th, 2023 12:30 PM

We know the price of everything has gone up and the cost of back to school shopping has reached an all-time high.

Ah, the sweet smell of freshly sharpened pencils and the sight of brand new backpacks lining the shelves. I used to love back to school shopping. Now, of course, I was a kid so it didn’t come out of my pocket. But going up and down the aisles picking the perfect folders and pencils was so much fun. It’s hard to believe kids here in Southwest Florida will be bidding farewell to summer fun in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Naples and heading back to school on Thursday already.

I’m sure most parents are scrambling this week to finish checking off those school supply lists. And with that, I have no doubt they’re taking notice of the cost of these items. If you feel like you’re paying more this year than in prior years, you’re right. A new study by the National Retail Federation shows that back to school spending is expected to reach $41.5 billion, up from $36.9 billion last year. The higher prices are having families spending more than ever, as well as the higher demand for electronics like laptops and tablets.

Here are some tips to help save money on back to school shopping:

It’s always good to save money where you can. First, before you hit the stores, raid your home and last year’s backpack for any school supplies that are still in good condition and can be reused. You may be surprised by how many items you already have. Second, create a budget and stick to it. To follow it, you may compare prices from store to store or use coupons where you can to get more bang for your buck. Third, weekdays and early mornings tend to be less crowded, allowing you to browse without the chaos and distractions. And finally, stick to the essentials. There’s lots of wants, but stick to the needs.

New Report Shows Florida Has the 9th Best School System in America

• Main Findings

  Source: WalletHub

• Public School Ranking by State

  Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Quality	Safety
  1	Massachusetts	73.02	1	1
  2	Connecticut	65.60	3	6
  3	New Jersey	65.40	2	19
  4	Wisconsin	61.55	4	17
  5	Virginia	60.28	7	5
  6	New Hampshire	60.13	5	15
  7	Nebraska	59.18	8	7
  8	Maryland	59.00	15	4
  9	Florida	57.48	10	10
  10	North Dakota	57.21	6	24

  Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category. To see all 51, see the full report here. 

• Dropout Rate

  Lowest

  • 1. West Virginia
  • 2. Iowa
  • 3. Kentucky
  • 4. New Jersey
  • 5. Indiana

  

  Highest

  • 47. Oklahoma
  • T-48. Alaska
  • T-48. Arizona
  • T-48. New Mexico
  • T-48. District of Columbia

  Best State vs. Worst State: 3x Difference

  West Virginia vs. District of Columbia

• Math Test Scores

  Highest

  • 1. Massachusetts
  • 2. Wyoming
  • 3. Utah
  • 4. Nebraska
  • 5. Wisconsin

  

  Lowest

  • 47. Oklahoma
  • 48. Delaware
  • 49. West Virginia
  • 50. District of Columbia
  • 51. New Mexico

• Reading Test Scores

  Highest

  • 1. Massachusetts
  • 2. New Jersey
  • 3. Utah
  • T-4. Colorado
  • T-4. New Hampshire

  

  Lowest

  • 47. Oklahoma
  • 48. Alaska
  • 49. District of Columbia
  • 50. West Virginia
  • 51. New Mexico

• Median SAT Score

  Highest

  • 1. Wisconsin
  • T-2. Kansas
  • T-2. Utah
  • T-2. Wyoming
  • T-5. Minnesota
  • T-5. Nebraska

  

  Lowest

  • T-46. Delaware
  • T-46. New Mexico
  • T-46. Rhode Island
  • 49. Oklahoma
  • T-50. District of Columbia
  • T-50. West Virginia

• Median ACT Score

  Highest

  • 1. District of Columbia
  • T-2. California
  • T-2. Connecticut
  • T-2. Massachusetts
  • 5. New Hampshire

  

  Lowest

  • T-44. Alabama
  • T-44. Arizona
  • T-44. Louisiana
  • T-44. Mississippi
  • T-44. North Carolina
  • T-44. Oklahoma
  • T-44. Tennessee
  • 51. Nevada

  Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Differenc

• Pupil-Teacher Ratio

  Lowest

  • 1. Vermont
  • 2. Maine
  • 3. District of Columbia
  • 4. New Hampshire
  • 5. New Jersey

  

  Highest

  • 47. Alabama
  • 48. Nevada
  • 49. California
  • 50. Arizona
  • 51. Utah

  Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

  Vermont vs. Utah

• % of Threatened/Injured High School Students

  Lowest

  • 1. Delaware
  • 2. California
  • 3. North Carolina
  • 4. Maine
  • 5. Massachusetts

  

  Highest

  • T-40. Idaho
  • T-40. Texas
  • 42. Kansas
  • 43. Alabama
  • 44. Mississippi
  • 45. Louisiana

  Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

  Delaware vs. Louisiana

• Bullying Incidence Rate

  Lowest

  • 1. District of Columbia
  • 2. Delaware
  • 3. Hawaii
  • 4. Rhode Island
  • 5. Virginia

  

  Highest

  • 44. Iowa
  • 45. Wyoming
  • 46. New Hampshire
  • 47. West Virginia
  • 48. Alaska

• Source: WalletHub

  Note: Spending Ranking refers to “Total Current Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Day Schools per Student” (Highest Amount = Rank 1)

• Methodology

  In order to determine the best and worst states for public-school education, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, “Quality” and “Safety.”

  We evaluated those dimensions using 32 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest quality of public K–12 education.

  Finally, we determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

• Quality – Total Points: 80

  • Presence of Public Schools in “Top 700 Best U.S. Schools”: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the number of public schools in U.S. News & World Report’s “Top 700 Best U.S. Schools” ranking adjusted by the number of public schools for each state in the U.S. News & World Report sample.
  • Blue Ribbon Schools per Capita: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
    Note: The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
  • High School Graduation Rate Among Low-Income Students: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  • Projected High School Graduation Rate Increase Between 2022-2023 and 2033-2034 School Years: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  • Dropout Rate: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
  • Math Test Scores: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the scores earned by fourth and eighth graders.
  • Reading Test Scores: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the scores earned by fourth and eighth graders.
  • Share of 2022 High School Class Scoring “3” or Higher on Advanced Placement Exams: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
  • Median SAT Score: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
  • Median ACT Score: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
  • Share of High School Graduates Who Completed ACT and/or SAT: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
    Note: For this metric, the percentage sum may be larger than 100 percent, considering some students completed both standardized tests. However, no data specifying the number of students who did so are available.
  • Division of SAT Results by Percentile: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  • Division of ACT Results by Percentile: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  • Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  • Share of Licensed/Certified Public K–12 Teachers: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)

  Safety – Total Points: 20

  • Existence of Digital Learning Plan: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This binary metric measures whether a state has guidelines in place for comprehensive strategies for schools deploying technology, trainings for teachers, and instructional resources for building remote lesson plans.
  • State Statute on Out of School Access to Instructional Materials: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This binary metric measures whether a state is ensuring digital content and instructional materials are available outside of the classroom.
  • State Guidance on Accessible Technologies: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This binary metric measures whether a state has accessibility assurance to acceptable technologies for providing instructional content.
  • Share of Threatened/Injured High School Students: Double Weight (~2.22 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the share of public school students in grades 9 to 12 who reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property.
  • Share of High School Students Not Attending School Due to Safety Concerns: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the share of public school students in grades 9 to 12 who reported not attending school because they felt unsafe at or on their way to or from school.
  • Share of Children Whose Parents Agree Their Children Go to Safe Schools: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: Share of children aged 6-17 whose parents definitely agree that their children are safe at school.
  • Share of High School Students with Access to Illegal Drugs: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the share of public school students in grades 9 to 12 who reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property.
  • Share of High School Students Participating in Violence: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the share of public school students in grades 9 to 12 who reported involvement in a physical fight at least once during the previous 12 months on school property.
  • Share of Armed High School Students: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This metric measures the share of public school students in grades 9 to 12 who reported carrying a weapon on school property.
  • Number of School Shootings (2000-present (June, 2022)): Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
  • Presence of Adopted and Enacted Laws Regulating Mandatory School Resource Officers: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
  • Bullying Incidence Rate: Double Weight (~2.22 Points)
  • Disciplinary Incidence Rate: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: Rate measured per 100,000 students.
  • Youth Incarceration Rate: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: Rate measured per 100,000 population aged 20 and younger.
  • School Safety Plan Requirement: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
    Note: This binary metric measures whether a state requires or not a school safety plan.
  • School Safety Audit Requirement: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)
    Note: This binary metric measures whether a state requires or not a school safety audit.
  • Safety Grade of Roads Around School: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)
    Note: School safety scores and rankings are based on unsafe driving events detected by the Zendrive platform within school areas.

  Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Education, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Center for Education Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Education Commission of the States, U.S. News & World Report, College Board, Ballotpedia, ACT, State Educational Technology Directors Association, Civil Rights Data Collection and Zendrive.

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Author Marija

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