Great Falls Elem

Great Falls, Montana — 17 schools

7,032
Total Enrollment
17
Schools
$13,469
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Great Falls Elem operates 17 public schools serving 7,032 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 15 other, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 6,799 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Cascade County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,469 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 33.9% local, 38.7% state, and 27.4% 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 $75,323 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 34/100, ranked #77 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 355:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 50.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 67.2% White, 9.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American across the district's schools.

Great Falls Elem school enrollment varies 4.1× across entities

Great Falls Elem school enrollment ranges from 187 students (lowest) to 764 students (highest), a spread of 577 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Great Falls Elem student-counselor ratio is 355:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Great Falls Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 50.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

27.4%
Federal
38.7%
State
33.9%
Local

Funding Equity

34
Equity Score
77 / 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 Cascade County county, where this district is located.

$960
Studio/mo
$979
1 BR/mo
$1,284
2 BR/mo
$1,786
3 BR/mo
$2,035
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$75,323
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 17 schools in Great Falls Elem.

White 67.2%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
African American 1.1%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 13.3%
Other 7.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

355:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
50.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Great Falls Elem

School Enrollment
East Middle School
764
North Middle School
764
Meadow Lark School
527
Riverview School
445
Giant Springs Elementary
431
West Elementary
421
Sacajawea School
405
Sunnyside School
396
Loy School
392
Lincoln School
373
Lewis & Clark School
338
Mountain View School
315
Valley View School
312
Longfellow School
263
Chief Joseph School
260
Morningside School
206
Whittier School
187

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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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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Bozeman Elem
4,651 students · 11 schools · $12,124/pupil
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Compare Great Falls Elem

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 Great Falls Elem?

Great Falls Elem has 17 schools, including 2 middle, 15 other. Total enrollment is 7,032 students.

How much does Great Falls Elem spend per student?

Great Falls Elem spends $13,469 per student. The district has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #77 in Montana.

What is the average teacher salary in Great Falls Elem?

The average teacher salary in Great Falls Elem is $75,323 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Great Falls Elem?

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

What is the demographic composition of Great Falls Elem?

Great Falls Elem students are 67.2% White, 9.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 17 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Great Falls Elem?

Great Falls Elem has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #77 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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