Fergus 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.

Lewistown, Montana - 1 schools

An equity score of 33/100 ranks Fergus H S #83 of 141 districts in Montana (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,029 per pupil, Fergus H S ranks #245 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending (Montana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

356
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$14,029
Per-Pupil Spending
High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Fergus H S operates 1 public schools serving 356 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 Fergus County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,029 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 57.8% local, 40.5% state, and 1.6% 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 33/100, ranked #83 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 1 schools offering Advanced Placement (11 AP courses district-wide), a 231.3:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 26.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 89.6% White, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Fergus High School, enrolling 347 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Fergus High School accounts for 97.5% of all Fergus H S student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Fergus H S a distant remainder — means Fergus 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

Fergus H S student-counselor ratio is 231:1 — 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

Fergus H S chronic absenteeism rate is 26.8% — 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 Fergus H S is typically wider than the Fergus H S-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

1.6%
Federal
40.5%
State
57.8%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
83 / 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 Fergus H S.

White 89.6%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 2.0%
Other 2.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 1
Schools with AP
11 AP courses total
231.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
26.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Fergus H S

School Enrollment
Fergus High School
347

How Fergus 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
Bigfork H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Stevensville H S Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Colstrip Elem Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Dawson H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Fergus 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 Fergus H S?

Fergus H S has 1 school, including 1 high. Total enrollment is 356 students.

How much does Fergus H S spend per student?

Fergus H S spends $14,029 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #83 in Montana.

What is the demographic composition of Fergus H S?

Fergus H S students are 89.6% White, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% African American, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Fergus H S?

Fergus H S has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #83 out of 141 districts in Montana.