Bigfork H S

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.

Bigfork, Montana - 1 schools

An equity score of 26/100 ranks Bigfork H S #107 of 141 districts in Montana (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,344 per pupil, Bigfork H S ranks #269 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending (Montana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

354
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$13,344
Per-Pupil Spending
High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Bigfork H S operates 1 public schools serving 354 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 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 Flathead County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,344 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending. See how Montana compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 55.1% local, 33.6% state, and 11.3% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 26/100, ranked #107 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 300:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 42.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.1% White, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Bigfork High School, enrolling 333 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Bigfork High School accounts for 94.1% of all Bigfork H S student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Bigfork H S a distant remainder — means Bigfork H S-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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

Bigfork H S student-counselor ratio is 300:1 — 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 Bigfork H S is typically wider than the Bigfork H S-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Bigfork H S chronic absenteeism rate is 42.6% — 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?

11.3%
Federal
33.6%
State
55.1%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
107 / 141
State Rank
38
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Bigfork H S.

White 90.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.2%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 1.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

300:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
42.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Bigfork H S

School Enrollment
Bigfork High School
333

How Bigfork H S Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Montana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Bonner Elem Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Fergus H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Stevensville H S Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Dawson H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Colstrip Elem Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Bigfork H S's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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
Compare vs Bigfork H S →
Great Falls Elem
7,032 students · 17 schools · $12,418/pupil
Compare vs Bigfork H S →
Billings H S
5,610 students · 3 schools · $11,891/pupil
Compare vs Bigfork H S →
Missoula Elem
5,280 students · 12 schools · $12,776/pupil
Compare vs Bigfork H S →
Helena Elem
5,225 students · 13 schools · $13,560/pupil
Compare vs Bigfork H S →

Compare Bigfork H S

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 Bigfork H S?

Bigfork H S has 1 school, including 1 high. Total enrollment is 354 students.

How much does Bigfork H S spend per student?

Bigfork H S spends $13,344 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #107 in Montana.

What is the demographic composition of Bigfork H S?

Bigfork H S students are 90.1% White, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Bigfork H S?

Bigfork H S has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #107 out of 141 districts in Montana.