US families face near $900 per child back-to-school costs in 2024

A new report from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation projects that the average family will spend nearly $4,000 per child for the 2026‑27 school year, an 11% increase over the previous year.

The National Retail Federation says 62% of shoppers have already begun back‑to‑school buying, with a record 32% starting in early June. U.S. consumers are expected to spend about $147 billion this season – $40 billion on electronics, $26 billion on clothing, $18 billion on shoes and $14 billion on school supplies – even as many families tighten budgets, turn to buy‑now‑pay‑later options, or work extra hours.

A Good Morning America/Ipsos poll finds parents anticipate spending roughly $900 per child this year, with higher amounts for high‑school students and notable differences by race and ethnicity.