You could cut out 90% of the School District Administration budge and not miss a beat.
I decent teacher could teach effectively in a barn with shared books and hand held slates.
My guess is that number is inflated by back-to-school wardrobe shopping. Even with new backpacks, lunchbags, etc., to replace the worn-out ones, I can’t imagine we topped $100 for three kids for actual school supplies. But new clothes and shoes (that they would need regardless of school) would drive that number much higher.
The standard, minimum school supply list was about $100 per kid. The curriculum fees and necessary fees upped this to $250 per kid. Optional clubs and field trips I don't want to exclude my kids from for being cheap, $350.
My kids are not in formal sports or activities with lots of fees. If my son played football, it would be about $200 more. If my daughter did cheer leading, it would be about $400. And my children are in elementary school. If they were older, those costs would be higher. I have no tutoring costs, which is hundreds per month. Music is another big cost for older kids. My daughter's clarinet is a hand me down (free) and lessons are with a family member (free). Yet the school had a meeting with a rep on renting instruments. There are teachers who insist all kids take music lessons, another $150-300 per month. I can see how parents end up on the hook for hundreds for enrichments that they think are mandatory to get a child into college. Sports alone are costly. It would be better to take the kids to the park to run around and organize play dates, but some parents think you MUST have a son in a sport to build character or get exercise. Your daughter MUST be in dance or cheer leading to get exercise and make friends. I use American Heritage Girls and Boy Scouts for the "socialization".