LAS VEGAS -- Nevada schools rank among the bottom in the country in per pupil spending, but Clark County is at the bottom in the state.

Even though the county produces the most tax revenue, its students get the least amount of funding.

According to the U.S. census, Nevada is currently ranked 45th in the nation for per pupil spending, and even worse for Clark County --- the funding is not divided equally per student across the state.

In 2007, the Nevada Department of Education said Clark County received a little less than $4,500 per student --- about half the national average, and less than any other county in the state.

Some counties in the Silver State actually get to spend more money per pupil than the national average.

“It's based on the relative wealth. Second, it's based on the cost to provide services, so, because it is more expensive to run a district like Esmeralda County or Eureka than it is to run Clark County, they require (more per pupil) than Clark, that has massive economies of scale,” said Clark County School District superintendent Jim Wells.

Esmeralda County actually receives the most money per pupil from the state, at more than $10,000 per pupil.

The state said they use a formula based on the county's relative wealth and the county's expenses.

Clark County’s students make up more than 70 percent of all the students in the state, but they receive the least amount of funding.

One reason Veronica Nieto is moving her son out of the school district.

“I told my son and husband -- let's just go to a smaller school district,” she said.

In Nevada, the smallest districts spend more.

Districts like Elko spend almost $6,000, Nye spends more than $6,000 per student, Lincoln spends $9.000 and Pershing, more than $7,000.

The state said it costs more to have facilities in rural areas. Without the extra funding, they couldn't have schools.

In the meantime, Clark County is still well below the national average, but the state said it receives more money from local taxes.

In the end, it's up to taxpayers and the government to make education a priority.

The state said the numbers are just the basic guarantee.

CCSD also gets funding from local vehicle registrations and utilities.