Source graphics $12,000 per re-K-12 public school student per year CNN report CNN report CNN Money infographic every state Look at this graph http://money.cnn.com/infographic/economy/education-vs-pris many other states insane mixup of our priorities source result isnât pretty graphics $12,000 per p more for prisons than schools on-costs/ vastly more expensive to incarcerate a person Source $56,000 per incarcerated person vs. $16,000 per student difference in cost The following chart can be found at CNN Money re-K-12 public school student per year Education vs Prison Costs, Education vs prison costs more on its prisoners p prisons keep us safe spends around study Education vs Prison Costs, CNN Money Education vs prison costs CNN money CNN Money study Data shows US spends more on prisons than schools instead of vice versa. Look at this graph insane mixup of our priorities US spends more on prisons than schools many other states spends around US spends more on prisons than schools CNN report study Education vs Prison Costs, Education vs Prison cost education EDUCATION v. PRISON COSTS US spends more on prisons than schools $13,000 (Kentucky) to $60,000 (New York) per inmate