Spending Uncovered: What Our Analysis of $4 Million in Government Drone Purchases Reveals

"Why is my school district buying drones?"

Public meetings across the country increasingly feature discussions about drone technology investments, with citizens and officials questioning their purpose and value.

To find answers, we dove into the data. Using NationGraph's database of 100,000+ public sector entities, we analyzed $4 million in drone spending patterns and examined 55 drone-related RFPs between May 2024-2025. Our research uncovered revealing insights about how governments and schools are adopting this technology—and why.

Where the Action Is Happening

When examining drone purchasing patterns across our database, we expected to find public safety departments dominating purchases. Instead, our analysis of the $4 million in spending revealed:

• Education dominates: 71% of drone purchases in our dataset came from educational institutions
• Price disparity: Orders ranged from $100 basic units to $98,545 comprehensive systems
• Market fragmentation: Over 100 vendors compete in this space, with no single supplier controlling more than 15% market share
• Geographic hotspots: North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Nevada, and South Carolina account for 45% of all drone RFPs in our sample

This pattern of spending offers a unique perspective that wouldn't be apparent without analyzing the actual purchasing data.

K-12: A Major Drone Buyer

One of the most interesting findings in our data is how significantly K-12 schools are investing in drone technology. Our analysis of 1,353 drone purchase orders between May 2024-2025 revealed:

• K-12 schools placed 600 orders (44% of total)
• Higher education institutions placed 365 orders (27% of total)

When we looked more closely at school board meeting minutes and procurement policies, we saw how non-military institutions are discussing their use of drones.

"Drones can be used for emergency preparedness (i.e., developing evacuation routes), capturing angles at sporting events, monitoring construction projects and rooftops, enhancing field projects such as studying plants and wildlife from a distance, taking class pictures featuring the entire student body, and providing band directors and football coaches with a bird's-eye view of formations." — Morongo Unified School District policy

Educational institutions appear to be serving two roles: addressing their immediate operational requirements while providing students with hands-on experience with technologies that have growing applications across industries.

Price Variance Creates Vendor Opportunities

One of the most striking patterns in our data is the extreme variance in pricing—even for identical or similar products. Our analysis reveals:

• Median order: $500 (basic consumer drones)
• Average order: $2,924 (professional/educational systems)
• Highest order: $98,545 (comprehensive drone program)

This pricing variance creates significant opportunities for specialized vendors who understand the nuanced needs of different government buyers. In fact, educational specialists like Robolink command premium prices:

• Robolink's average order: $5,230
• Amazon's average order: $679

Amazon captures only 7.6% of government drone purchases, while educational specialists command nearly three times that share—despite premium price points. In other words, when agencies have specialized needs, they opt for tailored solutions over the lowest bid.

If You’re in the Drone Business, Here’s What It Means for You

If we were in the drone business, here’s what we’d focus on to drive growth:

For Drone Manufacturers & Resellers:

• Focus on specialized educational use cases: Consider reviewing meeting minutes and strategic plans to identify specific applications gaining traction in K-12 and higher education
• Target geographic clusters: Research which regions show highest concentration and identify similar institutions in those areas that haven't yet purchased
• Prepare for service-oriented models: Consider sending Freedom of Information Act requests to institutions who have purchased drones to see if they've adopted service models that provide recurring revenue
• Develop comprehensive programs: Create education-specific packages that include curriculum and training based on documented use cases

For Technology Service Providers:

• Explore integration opportunities: Research which trusted partners already have relationships with drone vendors, and whether value-added resellers or system integrators have better traction in this market
• Create training programs: Think about tracking certification requirements and upcoming legislative changes to align your service offerings accordingly
• Leverage early adopter relationships: Understand who the market leaders are, who bought first, and which sister schools and districts have similar problems but haven't purchased yet to expand your market reach

For Public Affairs Consultants:

• Help navigate complex regulations: Monitor legislative tracking tools to stay ahead of upcoming changes affecting drone programs
• Identify funding mechanisms: Research grants and special allocations that can support drone initiatives
• Develop effective messaging: Read through what districts and public entities are discussing to create messaging that positions you to solve their specific problems

The Bottom Line

Drones are reshaping how public services, education, and workforce development solve their problems. With over 1 million registered drones nationwide and nearly 445,000 certificated remote pilots as of April 2025, this technology has clearly moved beyond novelty to become an essential tool.

As these figures continue to climb, organizations that tap into this trend—and tailor their strategies accordingly—will gain a clear competitive edge. NationGraph delivers the data you need to decode these purchasing patterns and stay ahead as adoption accelerates.

Want to see the full breakdown? Contact us and we’ll share deeper insights into what our data reveals about this evolving market.