Meridian Community Unified School District 101 received $735.04 per student from the federal government in 2015, or approximately $315,332.16, according to data published by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
The $315,332.16 equals approximately 6.4 percent of District 101's total budget. The state average for federal funding of public school districts is 8 percent, according to ISBE.
The Obama administration is threatening to pull federal funding of local schools that refuse to follow Washington directives. Most recently, it ordered all public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.
Chicago Public Schools gets 16 percent of its funding from the federal government, or twice the state average. Chicago property taxpayers pay for only 49 percent of their school bill; District 101 pays for 67.5 percent.
District 101 spent a total of $11,485 per student in 2015.
Among Southeast Illinois school districts, Hardin County CUSD 1 ($856.48 per pupil) and Cairo USD 1 ($2,168.07 per pupil) receive more money from the federal government than District 101.
Marion CUSD 2 ($488.12 per pupil)and Herrin CUSD 4 ($673.68 per pupil) receive less.
Carterville Community Unified School District 5 spends the most money on public schools in Southeast Illinois, at $18,407 per pupil.
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