The respected publication Education Week says Florida spends $9,737 on each student annually. That’s nearly 30 percent lower than the nationwide average of $12,526. New Jersey, the fifth-highest spender up around $19,000 a year, is ranked No. 1 in public schools by U.S. News and World Report. The tops schools are clustered in the Northeast, which is no surprise because residents and lawmakers in those areas actually value education and are willing to pay for it. In Florida, the Legislature controls how much local school boards can collect.