Big Timber Elem

Big Timber, Montana — 2 schools

318
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$9,916
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Big Timber Elem operates 2 public schools serving 318 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 other, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 291 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Sweet Grass County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,916 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 50.4% local, 40.0% state, and 9.5% 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 $79,369 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 11/100, ranked #140 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 286:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 25.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.0% White, 8.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American across the district's schools.

Big Timber School accounts for 76.3% of all Big Timber Elem student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Big Timber Elem-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 Timber Elem student-counselor ratio is 286:1 — 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 Big Timber Elem is typically wider than the Big Timber Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Big Timber Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 25.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Big Timber Elem is typically wider than the Big Timber Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

9.5%
Federal
40.0%
State
50.4%
Local

Funding Equity

11
Equity Score
140 / 141
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

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

$881
Studio/mo
$918
1 BR/mo
$1,176
2 BR/mo
$1,551
3 BR/mo
$1,638
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$79,369
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 2 schools in Big Timber Elem.

White 87.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Multiracial 3.5%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

286:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Big Timber Elem

School Enrollment
Big Timber School
222
Big Timber 7-8
69

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 · $13,071/pupil
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Great Falls Elem
7,032 students · 17 schools · $13,469/pupil
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Billings H S
5,610 students · 3 schools · $12,352/pupil
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Missoula Elem
5,280 students · 12 schools · $13,532/pupil
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Helena Elem
5,225 students · 13 schools · $14,602/pupil
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Compare Big Timber Elem

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Big Timber Elem?

Big Timber Elem has 2 schools, including 1 other, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 318 students.

How much does Big Timber Elem spend per student?

Big Timber Elem spends $9,916 per student. The district has an equity score of 11/100, ranking #140 in Montana.

What is the average teacher salary in Big Timber Elem?

The average teacher salary in Big Timber Elem is $79,369 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Big Timber Elem?

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

What is the demographic composition of Big Timber Elem?

Big Timber Elem students are 87.0% White, 8.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Big Timber Elem?

Big Timber Elem has an equity score of 11/100, ranking #140 out of 141 districts in Montana. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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