As the new school year approaches, teachers are again gearing up to create the best learning environments for their students. Ever wondered what essential items make it to their back-to-school wish lists?

In this article, we uncover the top supplies teachers need, how much they spend out of pocket, and the impact of inflation on these costs. We’ll dive into the specifics of their most-wanted items, analyze their Amazon wish lists, and share insights from a recent survey of K-12 educators. Get ready to discover what it truly takes to stock a classroom and how teachers manage these expenses.

Key Takeaways

93% of K-12 educators pay for school supplies out of their pocket; 44% spend between $201 and $500 each year.
Nearly 2 in 5 K-12 educators reported receiving no funding from their school district for school supplies this past school year.
54% of K-12 educators will depend on wish lists and/or donations to adequately stock their classrooms with school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year.
Teachers are most likely to have stationery (97%), classroom decor (89%), and books (80%) on their back-to-school wish lists.

Teachers’ Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Funding

93% of K-12 educators pay for school supplies out of their pocket; 44% spend between $201 and $500 each year.

o On average, 5th grade teachers spend the most out of pocket ($350), while Kindergarten teachers spend the least ($251).

Nearly 2 in 5 K-12 educators received no funding from their school district for supplies this past year.
54% of K-12 educators will depend on wish lists and/or donations to adequately stock their classrooms with supplies for the 2024-20205 school year.

o K-5 educators are the most likely to depend on wish lists and/or donations (61%), while 9-12 educators are the least likely (41%).

Top Items on Teachers’ Wish Lists

Teachers are most likely to have stationery (97%), classroom decor (89%), and books (80%) on their wish lists.
On average, teachers have roughly 8 stationery items, 5 classroom decor items, and 4 books on their wish lists.
The most expensive items on teachers’ wish lists (per item) are:

o Furniture ($41)

o Electronics ($37)

o Organization-related ($30)

Prior to recent inflation impacts, the cost of school supplies would have cost:

o 3.2% less a year ago.

o 14.3% less 3 years ago.

o 18.5% less 5 years ago.

o 24.3% less 10 years ago.

Methodology

For the first half of this study, we surveyed 200 K-12 educators about their costs, funding, and need for wish lists to fund their classrooms. Among these educators, 55% reported teaching grades K-5, 27% reported teaching grades 6-8, and 33% reported teaching grades 9-12. Some reported teaching across multiple grade ranges.

For the second half of this study, we analyzed teachers’ wish lists from My Classroom Wish List and Teacher Wish List Finder. In total, 2,265 Amazon wish lists were analyzed, with each product assigned to general classroom-related categories.

About Prodigy Education

Prodigy Education is a global leader in game-based learning. Our mission is to help every student in the world love learning, motivating millions worldwide via fun, secure and accessible curriculum-aligned gameplay experiences. At Prodigy Education, we believe maximizing student motivation helps develop a lifetime love of learning. Prodigy's approach to fun, game-based learning means kids no longer have to choose between homework and playtime. Visit www.prodigygame.com to learn more.

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