Hardin Elem

Hardin, Montana — 5 schools

1,284
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$17,950
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Hardin Elem operates 5 public schools serving 1,284 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 other, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,221 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Big Horn County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,950 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 17.3% local, 35.3% state, and 47.4% 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 $77,871 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 66/100, ranked #6 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 254.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 79.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 11.2% White, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian across the district's schools.

Hardin Middle School accounts for 29.4% of all Hardin Elem student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Hardin Elem-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: middle. 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

Hardin Elem school enrollment varies 21× across entities

Hardin Elem school enrollment ranges from 17 students (lowest) to 359 students (highest), a spread of 342 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Hardin Elem student-counselor ratio is 254:1 — 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 Hardin Elem is typically wider than the Hardin Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Hardin Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 79.8% — 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?

47.4%
Federal
35.3%
State
17.3%
Local

Funding Equity

66
Equity Score
6 / 141
State Rank
38
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Big Horn County county, where this district is located.

$976
Studio/mo
$992
1 BR/mo
$1,302
2 BR/mo
$1,657
3 BR/mo
$2,115
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$77,871
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 5 schools in Hardin Elem.

White 11.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 2.5%
Other 81.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

254.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
79.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Hardin Elem

School Enrollment
Hardin Middle School
359
Hardin Intermediate
290
Hardin Primary
287
Crow Agency School
268
Fort Smith School
17

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 Hardin Elem

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 Hardin Elem?

Hardin Elem has 5 schools, including 1 middle, 1 elementary, 3 other. Total enrollment is 1,284 students.

How much does Hardin Elem spend per student?

Hardin Elem spends $17,950 per student. The district has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #6 in Montana.

What is the average teacher salary in Hardin Elem?

The average teacher salary in Hardin Elem is $77,871 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Hardin Elem?

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

What is the demographic composition of Hardin Elem?

Hardin Elem students are 11.2% White, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% African American, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Hardin Elem?

Hardin Elem has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #6 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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