Executive Summary
Soon after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, Teach Coalition conducted a survey of Jewish schools asking administrators how they expected their security spending would be affected by the tragic events and ensuing conflict.
This year, Teach Coalition conducted a survey to compare security spending in Jewish schools for the 2024-2025 school year with that of 2022-2023. With responses from 63 schools, representing 10% of Jewish students in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida, this study looks at actual spending levels a year after Oct. 7, providing an even firmer basis for assessing its impact on Jewish schools’ security costs.
We found that:
- For the 2022-2023 school year, the average Jewish school spent $184,228 annually ($445 per pupil) on security, accounting for 1.85% of their budget, with 40% of students charged a security fee.
- By the 2024-2025 school year, average security spending by Jewish schools rose to $339,297 annually ($807 per pupil), an 84% increase.
- Security now comprises 3.09% of the average school’s budget, with 52% of students charged a security fee and an additional 26% facing tuition increases due to rising security costs.
- Security guards represent 69% of security spending, with larger schools spending more overall but smaller schools spending more per pupil.
These findings highlight the urgent need for increased government security funding.
Read the full report here:
Jewish School Security Spending Report (April 2025)