Oregon's public schools will receive a record $74.2 million from the Common School Fund in 2024 and a good portion of that is coming to the southern part of the state.
Every one of Oregon's 197 public school districts receives money from the Common School Fund each year. How much each district receives depends on the number of students served. The average distribution is approximately $376,000.
Locally, the Medford School District will receive more than $1.8 million while the Grants Pass School District will receive more than $783,000 from the fund. The Central Point School District will get nearly $635,000 and the Three Rivers School District will get just over $613,000. The other recipients, in order, are the school districts in Eagle Point, Ashland, Phoenix-Talent, Rogue River and Glendale.
The Common School Fund has supported Oregon schools since statehood in 1859, when the federal government granted our new state nearly 3.4 million acres "for the use of schools."
Now valued at $2.3 billion, the Common School Fund is invested by the State Treasurer and the Oregon Investment Council. The Fund earned an average 5.4% return over the three-year period ending in December 2023. Annually, 3.5% of the Fund is distributed to schools.
Today, approximately 681,000 acres of school lands in all 36 Oregon counties are managed by the Department of State Lands on behalf of the State Land Board. DSL is currently seeking public input on the plan that will guide management of school lands for the next 10 years. The comment period is open until April 3rd.
