Great Falls 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.

Great Falls, Montana - 2 schools

An equity score of 15/100 ranks Great Falls H S #133 of 141 districts in Montana (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,688 per pupil, Great Falls H S ranks #360 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending (Montana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,095
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$10,688
Per-Pupil Spending
High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Great Falls H S operates 2 public schools serving 3,095 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 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 Cascade County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,688 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 40 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending. See how Montana compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 52.2% local, 45.1% state, and 2.7% 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 15/100, ranked #133 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 296:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 62.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 74.0% White, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Great Falls High School, enrolling 1,548 students (52% of the district's total enrollment).

Great Falls High School accounts for 50.0% of all Great Falls H S student enrollment

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

Great Falls H S student-counselor ratio is 296:1 — 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 Great Falls H S is typically wider than the Great Falls H S-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Great Falls H S chronic absenteeism rate is 62.9% — 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?

2.7%
Federal
45.1%
State
52.2%
Local

Funding Equity

15
Equity Score
133 / 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 2 schools in Great Falls H S.

White 74.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
African American 1.1%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 9.4%
Other 7.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 2
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
296:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
62.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Great Falls H S

School Enrollment
Great Falls High School
1,548
C M Russell High School
1,412

How Great Falls H S Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Montana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Kalispell Elem Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Flathead H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Butte Elem Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Bozeman H S Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Helena H S Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Great Falls 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 Great Falls H S?

Great Falls H S has 2 schools, including 2 high. Total enrollment is 3,095 students.

How much does Great Falls H S spend per student?

Great Falls H S spends $10,688 per student. The district has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #133 in Montana.

What is the demographic composition of Great Falls H S?

Great Falls H S students are 74.0% White, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Great Falls H S?

Great Falls H S has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #133 out of 141 districts in Montana.