Lolo Elem

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.

Lolo, Montana - 2 schools

An equity score of 36/100 ranks Lolo Elem #73 of 141 districts in Montana (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,563 per pupil, Lolo Elem ranks #295 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending (Montana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

507
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$12,563
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lolo Elem operates 2 public schools serving 507 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 elementary 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 Missoula County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,563 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending. See how Montana compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 42.5% local, 48.1% state, and 9.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 36/100, ranked #73 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 266:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 44.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 88.7% White, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Lolo Elementary, enrolling 293 students (55% of the district's total enrollment).

Lolo Elementary accounts for 55.1% of all Lolo Elem student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Lolo Elem a distant remainder — means Lolo Elem-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

Lolo Elem student-counselor ratio is 266:1 — 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 Lolo Elem is typically wider than the Lolo Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Lolo Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 44.5% — 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?

9.4%
Federal
48.1%
State
42.5%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
73 / 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 Lolo Elem.

White 88.7%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 3.5%
Other 1.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

266:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
44.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Lolo Elem

School Enrollment
Lolo Elementary
293
Lolo Middle School
239

How Lolo Elem Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Montana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Wolf Point Elem Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Hardin H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Eureka Elem Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Custer County H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Malta K-12 Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Lolo 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 Lolo Elem?

Lolo Elem has 2 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 507 students.

How much does Lolo Elem spend per student?

Lolo Elem spends $12,563 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #73 in Montana.

What is the demographic composition of Lolo Elem?

Lolo Elem students are 88.7% White, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lolo Elem?

Lolo Elem has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #73 out of 141 districts in Montana.