School districts face a back-to-school math problem: The high price of diesel

School buses idle in front of a school in Manhattan's East Village on Jan. 15, 2013. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

Catch up on what you missed with our Education newsletter, sent weekly.

As the new school year kicks off, school districts are facing a challenging math problem: the high cost of diesel.

The price of a gallon of diesel is up nearly $2 compared with this time last year. That is meaningful for schools, considering that around 90% of the United States' 480,000 school buses run on diesel.

Nationally, the average price was $5.62 for a gallon as of Wednesday, according to AAA. This time last year, it cost $3.70.

School districts nationwide have been wrestling with the issue since spring, when the war with Iran started and fuel prices rose. A May survey produced by organizations that represent school superintendents and bus companies found that more than half the districts surveyed said diesel prices were already pushing them over budget.

In Washington state, Jacob Kuper, the Yakima School District's assistant superintendent of finance and operations, estimated that in the 2026-2027 school year, the higher cost of diesel could cost his district 38% more — or $130,000. "The equivalent of one teacher," he said.

So he looked for ways to reduce the district's diesel use. And he found a few: The district consolidated bus routes. It staggered bell times, reduced the number of total trips and put more kids on the same bus. "So then you save on the actual number of drivers you need," he said.