Barre Unified Union School District #97

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Barre, Vermont - 3 schools

An equity score of 71/100 ranks Barre Unified Union School District #97 #8 of 80 districts in Vermont (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $25,148 per pupil, Barre Unified Union School District #97 ranks #14 of 102 Vermont districts by per-pupil spending (Vermont districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,221
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$25,148
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Barre Unified Union School District #97 operates 3 public schools serving 2,221 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Vermont. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 high schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Washington County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $25,148 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 102 Vermont districts by per-pupil spending. See how Vermont compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 3.4% local, 85.5% state, and 11.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 71/100, ranked #8 of 80 in Vermont against a state average of 51, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (4 AP courses district-wide), a 296.9:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 63.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 88.7% White, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Barre City Elementary/Middle School, with a diversity index of 27.9/100.

Its largest campus is Barre Town Elementary & Middle School, enrolling 821 students (39% of the district's total enrollment).

Barre Town Elementary & Middle School accounts for 37.0% of all Barre Unified Union School District #97 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Barre Unified Union School District #97-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. 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

Barre Unified Union School District #97 student-counselor ratio is 297:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Barre Unified Union School District #97 is typically wider than the Barre Unified Union School District #97-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Barre Unified Union School District #97 chronic absenteeism rate is 63.9% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.0%
Federal
85.5%
State
3.4%
Local

Funding Equity

71
Equity Score
8 / 80
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Barre Unified Union School District #97.

White 88.7%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 4.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 20.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Barre Unified Union School District #97's schools, about the same as the Vermont average of 19.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Barre City Elementary/Middle School 27.9
  2. 2 Spaulding Union High School 20.0
  3. 3 Barre Town Elementary & Middle School 14.4

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
4 AP courses total
296.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
63.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Barre Unified Union School District #97

School Enrollment
Barre Town Elementary & Middle School
821
Barre City Elementary/Middle School
701
Spaulding Union High School
610

How Barre Unified Union School District #97 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Vermont districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Colchester School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Rutland City School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Barre Unified Union School District #97's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Vermont

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Barre Unified Union School District #97

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Barre Unified Union School District #97?

Barre Unified Union School District #97 has 3 schools, including 2 combined, 1 high. Total enrollment is 2,221 students.

How much does Barre Unified Union School District #97 spend per student?

Barre Unified Union School District #97 spends $25,148 per student. The district has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #8 in Vermont.

What is the demographic composition of Barre Unified Union School District #97?

Barre Unified Union School District #97 students are 88.7% White, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American, 0.8% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Barre Unified Union School District #97?

Barre Unified Union School District #97 has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #8 out of 80 districts in Vermont.