Discussions about public school funding often raise questions about the cost of educating undocumented students. The Children’s Equity Project report, The Right to Education for All: The Value of Plyler v. Doe, considers both the estimated number of undocumented students in K–12 schools and the tax contributions of undocumented households.
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What Share of K–12 Students Are Undocumented?
Using estimates based on 2023 data, the report describes approximately 989,000 undocumented students enrolled in K–12 schools, out of a total school population of 49.5 million. The report estimates that undocumented students represent less than 2% of the total.
The report also cautions against treating the number of English learners as a proxy for the number of undocumented students. It cites research indicating that 70% of English learners are U.S.-born.
How Do Undocumented Households Contribute to Public Revenues?
The report cites an estimate that undocumented households paid $75.7 billion in taxes in 2022, including federal, state, and local taxes. It also notes that undocumented families paid an estimated $10.4 billion in property taxes that year.
These contributions matter in the context of how public schools are funded. The report explains that K–12 schools receive funding from federal, state, and local sources, with state and local revenues providing most school funding.
What Does This Comparison Show?
The report presents student enrollment estimates alongside tax contribution estimates to show that undocumented households contribute to public revenues, including revenues connected to school funding.
The figures describe different things: one estimates the share of K–12 students who are undocumented, while the other estimates taxes paid by undocumented households. They should not be treated as a direct calculation of the cost of educating individual students or the amount any household pays toward a particular school.
For the full discussion, read the Children’s Equity Project report, The Right to Education for All: The Value of Plyler v. Doe.
Additional Content:
What Is Plyler v. Doe? The Supreme Court Decision Explained Can Undocumented Children Attend Public School? Enrollment Rights Explained How Do Immigrant Students Affect Their Classmates’ Learning? How Bilingual Learning Can Benefit Students and Employers How Undocumented Households Contribute to Public School Funding
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The Washington Post | ABC News | Fox 40 | The 74 | The Seattle Times| K-12 Dive| The New York Times
Frequently Asked Questions
The report estimates that approximately 989,000 undocumented students were enrolled in K–12 schools, less than 2% of a total school population of 49.5 million.
The report cites an estimate of $75.7 billion in taxes paid by undocumented households in 2022.
The report explains that public schools receive funding from state and local sources, including local revenues generated through property taxes. It cites an estimate that undocumented families paid $10.4 billion in property taxes in 2022.
No. The report cautions against conflating the groups and cites research indicating that 70% of English learners are U.S.-born.