2026 data 5 schools MT

Best Schools in Bigfork, MT

5 public K-12 schools in Bigfork from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

5 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in Bigfork, MT using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

5
Schools
1,070
Students
Avg Quality
16.6:1
Avg Class Size

How the Bigfork Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

Bigfork, MT enrolls 1,070 students across 5 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 16.6:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in Bigfork is Bigfork Elementary, scoring 31/100 (F) with 343 enrolled students at the other level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

Bigfork schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect Bigfork housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

Bigfork Elementary accounts for 32.1% of all Bigfork public-school enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Bigfork-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. A dominant campus often anchors a city's program landscape and absorbs a disproportionate share of district capital and staffing decisions. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Bigfork school enrollment varies 6.6× across entities

Bigfork school enrollment ranges from 52 students (lowest) to 343 students (highest), a spread of 291 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous school portfolio for a city this size. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Bigfork student-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 — near the typical range (US average ~16) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 16:1

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within Bigfork is typically wider than the Bigfork-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

# School Score
1. Bigfork Elementary 31 F
2. Bigfork High School 26 F
3. Bigfork 7-8 21 F
4. Swan River School 35 F
5. Swan River 6-8 33 F

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Bigfork, MT?

The top-rated school in Bigfork is Bigfork Elementary with a quality score of 31/100. There are 5 public schools in Bigfork with 1,070 total students.

How many schools are in Bigfork, MT?

Bigfork has 5 public schools with a total enrollment of 1,070 students. Average student-teacher ratio: 16.6:1.

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Related Guides

Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.