Darby School District 9

Listed by NCES as Darby K-12 Schools (district ID 3008280)

Public school district · Ravalli County · Montana · NCES district ID 3008280

Darby School District 9 spent $15,285 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 58% of the other Montana districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $16,778). Its 3 schools enrolled 334 students in 2024-25; 37.8% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,769 per student, down 3.4% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 60-79% (Montana: 85.5%).

Spending per student among Montana districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Darby School District 9 in enrollment (306 to 343 students) and Darby School District 9 itself.

Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Darby School District 9, FY23Beaverhead County High School $16,794; Darby School District 9 $15,285; Superior $14,978; Conrad Public Schools $13,892; Thompson Falls Elementary $13,672; Dawson County High School $13,329; Whitehall Elementary $12,485; Red Lodge Elementary $12,104; Big Timber Elementary $10,852; Lincoln County High School $9,905; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.7.5k10k12.5k15k17.5kBeaverhead County High School$16,794Darby School District 9$15,285Superior$14,978Conrad Public Schools$13,892Thompson Falls Elementary$13,672Dawson County High School$13,329Whitehall Elementary$12,485Red Lodge Elementary$12,104Big Timber Elementary$10,852Lincoln County High School$9,905State median, under 1,000 students $16,778
Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Darby School District 9, FY23Beaverhead County High School $16,794; Darby School District 9 $15,285; Superior $14,978; Conrad Public Schools $13,892; Thompson Falls Elementary $13,672; Dawson County High School $13,329; Whitehall Elementary $12,485; Red Lodge Elementary $12,104; Big Timber Elementary $10,852; Lincoln County High School $9,905; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.7.5k10k12.5k15k17.5kBeaverhead County High School$16,794Darby School District 9$15,285Superior$14,978Conrad Public Schools$13,892Thompson Falls Elementary$13,672Dawson County High School$13,329Whitehall Elementary$12,485Red Lodge Elementary$12,104Big Timber Elementary$10,852Lincoln County High School$9,905State median, under 1,000 students $16,778
Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Darby School District 9, FY23Beaverhead County High School $16,794; Darby School District 9 $15,285; Superior $14,978; Conrad Public Schools $13,892; Thompson Falls Elementary $13,672; Dawson County High School $13,329; Whitehall Elementary $12,485; Red Lodge Elementary $12,104; Big Timber Elementary $10,852; Lincoln County High School $9,905; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.7.5k12.5k17.5kBeaverhead County High School$16,794Darby School District 9$15,285Superior$14,978Conrad Public Schools$13,892Thompson Falls Elementary$13,672Dawson County High School$13,329Whitehall Elementary$12,485Red Lodge Elementary$12,104Big Timber Elementary$10,852Lincoln County High School$9,905State median, under 1,000 students $16,778
Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Darby School District 9, FY23Beaverhead County High School $16,794; Darby School District 9 $15,285; Superior $14,978; Conrad Public Schools $13,892; Thompson Falls Elementary $13,672; Dawson County High School $13,329; Whitehall Elementary $12,485; Red Lodge Elementary $12,104; Big Timber Elementary $10,852; Lincoln County High School $9,905; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.7.5k12.5k17.5kBeaverhead County High School$16,794Darby School District 9$15,285Superior$14,978Conrad Public Schools$13,892Thompson Falls Elementary$13,672Dawson County High School$13,329Whitehall Elementary$12,485Red Lodge Elementary$12,104Big Timber Elementary$10,852Lincoln County High School$9,905State median, under 1,000 students $16,778

Where the money came from

$5,962,000 in revenue: 37.8% state, 40.7% local and 21.5% federal. Total spending including $887,000 of capital outlay was $5,958,000, or $18,276 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Darby School District 9 revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $2,252,000; Local $2,427,000; Federal $1,283,000; total $5,962,000.
  • State$2,252,000 38%
  • Local$2,427,000 41%
  • Federal$1,283,000 22%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 361 districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25

326 students in 2022-23, 337 students in 2023-24, 334 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Darby School District 9 enrollment by school year2022-23: 326, 2023-24: 337, 2024-25: 33401002003004002022-233262023-243372024-25334
Darby School District 9 enrollment by school year2022-23: 326, 2023-24: 337, 2024-25: 33401002003004002022-233262023-243372024-25334
Darby School District 9 enrollment by school year2022-23: 326, 2023-24: 337, 2024-25: 33401002003004002022-233262023-243372024-25334
Darby School District 9 enrollment by school year2022-23: 326, 2023-24: 337, 2024-25: 33401002003004002022-233262023-243372024-25334

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-2332628.111.6
2023-2433726.512.7
2024-2533424.913.4

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$1,423,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,365 per student

Darby School District 9 booked $1,423,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 28 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $50,677 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 42 in 100 Montana districts with a figure (state median $53,321, 282 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Montana teacher salary at $53,628 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$1,220,00085.7%
Special education$162,00011.4%
Vocational$41,0002.9%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,639 in 2018-19, $3,690 in 2019-20, $3,903 in 2020-21, $4,020 in 2021-22, $4,365 in 2022-23.

Darby School District 9 teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,639, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,903, 2021-22: $4,020, 2022-23: $4,36502k4k6k2018-19$3,6392019-20$3,6902020-21$3,9032021-22$4,0202022-23$4,365
Darby School District 9 teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,639, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,903, 2021-22: $4,020, 2022-23: $4,36502k4k6k2018-19$3,6392019-20$3,6902020-21$3,9032021-22$4,0202022-23$4,365
Darby School District 9 teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,639, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,903, 2021-22: $4,020, 2022-23: $4,36502k4k6k2018-19$3,6392019-20$3,6902020-21$3,9032021-22$4,0202022-23$4,365
Darby School District 9 teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,639, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,903, 2021-22: $4,020, 2022-23: $4,36502k4k6k2018-19$3,6392019-20$3,6902020-21$3,9032021-22$4,0202022-23$4,365

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Darby School District 9 scored proficient or above: 35-39% in reading and 25-29% in math, against 45.7% in reading and 35.2% in math across Montana. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Montana, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMontanaStudents tested
Reading and language arts35-39%45.7%171
Math25-29%35.2%172

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

60-79% of the 25 students in Darby School District 9's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 85.5% across Montana. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMontana
Four-year graduation rate60‑79%85.5%
Students in the class2510,838

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

1 elementary school, 170 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Darby School17013.598.8%Targeted program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 middle school, 48 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Darby 7-84813.791.7%Targeted program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 high school, 116 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Darby High School11613.197.4%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Darby School District 9

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Darby School District 9

  1. Montana districts by spending per studentDarby School District 9 ranks 209 of 361 Montana districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($15,285).#209 of 361
  2. Every school district in MontanaDarby School District 9 is the number 97 by size of 398 Montana districts, with 326 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#97 of 398
  3. Red Lodge ElementaryThe next larger Montana district: 328 students in fall 2022, $12,104 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,104
  4. Superior School DistrictThe next smaller Montana district: 324 students in fall 2022, $14,978 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$14,978
  5. Compare Darby School District 9 with Red Lodge ElementaryEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Darby High School, its largest high school116 students in 2024-25, 13.1 per teacher.116
  7. Teacher salary spending across MontanaDarby School District 9 spent $50,677 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $53,321); spending, not a salary.$50,677
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Darby School District 9

  1. How many schools and students are in Darby School District 9?
    3 schools were open in 2024-25 (1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high), enrolling 334 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Darby School District 9 spend per student?
    $15,285 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Montana median for districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $16,778 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,769 per student, down 3.4% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Darby School District 9's money come from?
    $5,962,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 37.8% state, 40.7% local and 21.5% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Darby School District 9 live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 74 of the 428 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 17.3%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Darby School District 9 spend on teacher salaries?
    $1,423,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,365 per student. Divided by the 28 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $50,677 per teacher, more than 42 in 100 Montana districts (state median $53,321). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Montana teacher salary at $53,628 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Darby School District 9 do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Darby School District 9 scored proficient or above: 35-39% in reading and 25-29% in math, against 45.7% in reading and 35.2% in math across Montana. Montana's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Darby School District 9?
    60-79% of the 25 students in Darby School District 9's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 85.5% across Montana. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Darby School District 9's NCES district ID?
    3008280. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25