Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) wants more money for Chicago Public Schools and points out that New Trier High School District 203 spends more money per pupil than Chicago. Here are a few observations:

1. CPS today spends more money per pupil than most school districts in Illinois. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, in 2007 the average Illinois school district spent about $9,900 per pupil while CPS spent about $11,000. In fact, among unit school districts, those that include both elementary and high schools, CPS was in the top 5 percent in terms of its operating expenditures per pupil.