Colstrip Elem

Colstrip, Montana — 2 schools

366
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$19,152
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Colstrip Elem operates 2 public schools serving 366 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 336 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Rosebud County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,152 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 42.1% local, 35.9% state, and 22.0% 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 $95,772 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 56/100, ranked #21 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 168:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 25.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 48.0% White, 7.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian across the district's schools.

Pine Butte Elementary Sch accounts for 64.6% of all Colstrip Elem student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Colstrip 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

Colstrip Elem student-counselor ratio is 168:1 — 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

Colstrip Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 25.8% — 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 Colstrip Elem is typically wider than the Colstrip 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?

22.0%
Federal
35.9%
State
42.1%
Local

Funding Equity

56
Equity Score
21 / 141
State Rank
38
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

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

$889
Studio/mo
$993
1 BR/mo
$1,186
2 BR/mo
$1,649
3 BR/mo
$1,990
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$95,772
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 Colstrip Elem.

White 48.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.8%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 6.5%
Other 36.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

168:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Colstrip Elem

School Enrollment
Pine Butte Elementary Sch
217
Frank Brattin Middle Schl
119

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 Colstrip 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 Colstrip Elem?

Colstrip Elem has 2 schools, including 1 other, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 366 students.

How much does Colstrip Elem spend per student?

Colstrip Elem spends $19,152 per student. The district has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #21 in Montana.

What is the average teacher salary in Colstrip Elem?

The average teacher salary in Colstrip Elem is $95,772 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Colstrip Elem?

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

What is the demographic composition of Colstrip Elem?

Colstrip Elem students are 48.0% White, 7.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Colstrip Elem?

Colstrip Elem has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #21 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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Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

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Federal

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