Great Falls H S

Great Falls, Montana — 2 schools

3,095
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$12,166
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 smaller districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 2,960 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 $12,166 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 52.2% local, 45.1% state, and 2.7% 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 $65,449 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 15/100, ranked #132 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 296:1 student-counselor ratio, 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.

Great Falls High School accounts for 52.3% of all Great Falls H S student enrollment

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

2.7%
Federal
45.1%
State
52.2%
Local

Funding Equity

15
Equity Score
132 / 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

$65,449
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 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

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 Great Falls H S

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 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 $12,166 per student. The district has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #132 in Montana.

What is the average teacher salary in Great Falls H S?

The average teacher salary in Great Falls H S is $65,449 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Great Falls H S?

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 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 #132 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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