Independent Elem

Billings, Montana — 1 schools

297
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$10,219
Per-Pupil Spending
Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Independent Elem operates 1 public schools serving 297 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 272 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Yellowstone County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,219 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 36.3% local, 51.4% state, and 12.3% 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 $65,861 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 21/100, ranked #124 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 272:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 45.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 80.5% White, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American across the district's schools.

Independent School accounts for 100.0% of all Independent Elem student enrollment

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

Independent Elem student-counselor ratio is 272:1 — 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 Independent Elem is typically wider than the Independent Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Independent Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 45.6% — 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?

12.3%
Federal
51.4%
State
36.3%
Local

Funding Equity

21
Equity Score
124 / 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 Yellowstone County county, where this district is located.

$1,016
Studio/mo
$1,109
1 BR/mo
$1,417
2 BR/mo
$1,951
3 BR/mo
$2,216
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$65,861
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 1 schools in Independent Elem.

White 80.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Multiracial 4.4%
Other 7.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

272:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
45.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Independent Elem

School Enrollment
Independent School
272

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 Independent 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 Independent Elem?

Independent Elem has 1 schools, including 1 other. Total enrollment is 297 students.

How much does Independent Elem spend per student?

Independent Elem spends $10,219 per student. The district has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #124 in Montana.

What is the average teacher salary in Independent Elem?

The average teacher salary in Independent Elem is $65,861 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Independent Elem?

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

What is the demographic composition of Independent Elem?

Independent Elem students are 80.5% White, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American, averaged across 1 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Independent Elem?

Independent Elem has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #124 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

Coverage

50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
Industry baseline

Composite score weighing source authority, update freshness, and methodological transparency. 1.0 = full federal-source coverage with documented methodology and recent update.