Big Sandy K-12

Big Sandy, Montana — 3 schools

197
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$16,989
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Big Sandy K-12 operates 3 public schools serving 197 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 other, 1 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 181 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Chouteau County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,989 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 48.5% local, 35.9% state, and 15.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $84,048 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 60.3:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 31.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 75.2% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian across the district's schools.

F E Miley School accounts for 51.9% of all Big Sandy K-12 student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Big Sandy K-12-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. 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

Big Sandy K-12 school enrollment varies 3.4× across entities

Big Sandy K-12 school enrollment ranges from 28 students (lowest) to 94 students (highest), a spread of 66 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Big Sandy K-12 student-counselor ratio is 60:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Big Sandy K-12 chronic absenteeism rate is 31.3% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

15.6%
Federal
35.9%
State
48.5%
Local

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Chouteau County county, where this district is located.

$980
Studio/mo
$996
1 BR/mo
$1,307
2 BR/mo
$1,662
3 BR/mo
$1,950
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$84,048
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Big Sandy K-12.

White 75.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 7.9%
Other 10.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
60.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
31.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Big Sandy K-12

School Enrollment
F E Miley School
94
Big Sandy High School
59
Big Sandy 7-8
28

Nearby Districts in Montana

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

Billings Elem
10,988 students · 28 schools · $12,537/pupil
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Great Falls Elem
7,032 students · 17 schools · $12,418/pupil
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Billings H S
5,610 students · 3 schools · $11,891/pupil
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Missoula Elem
5,280 students · 12 schools · $12,776/pupil
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Helena Elem
5,225 students · 13 schools · $13,560/pupil
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Compare Big Sandy K-12

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

Compare vs Billings Elem →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Big Sandy K-12?

Big Sandy K-12 has 3 schools, including 1 other, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 197 students.

How much does Big Sandy K-12 spend per student?

Big Sandy K-12 spends $16,989 per student.

What is the average teacher salary in Big Sandy K-12?

The average teacher salary in Big Sandy K-12 is $84,048 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Big Sandy K-12?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Chouteau County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Big Sandy K-12?

Big Sandy K-12 students are 75.2% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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