Missoula Elem

Missoula, Montana — 12 schools

5,280
Total Enrollment
12
Schools
$13,532
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Missoula Elem operates 12 public schools serving 5,280 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 other, 3 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 5,190 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Missoula County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,532 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 42.2% local, 39.6% state, and 18.2% 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 $82,081 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 34/100, ranked #78 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 324.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 39.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.1% White, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% African American across the district's schools.

Missoula Elem school enrollment varies 2.4× across entities

Missoula Elem school enrollment ranges from 274 students (lowest) to 669 students (highest), a spread of 395 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

Missoula Elem student-counselor ratio is 324:1 — 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 Missoula Elem is typically wider than the Missoula Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Missoula Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 39.3% — 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?

18.2%
Federal
39.6%
State
42.2%
Local

Funding Equity

34
Equity Score
78 / 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 Missoula County county, where this district is located.

$1,143
Studio/mo
$1,400
1 BR/mo
$1,655
2 BR/mo
$2,302
3 BR/mo
$2,776
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$82,081
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 12 schools in Missoula Elem.

White 81.1%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%
African American 2.1%
Asian 1.8%
Multiracial 3.8%
Other 5.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

324.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
39.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Missoula Elem

School Enrollment
Washington Middle School
669
Porter Middle School
579
Jeannette Rankin El
457
Lewis & Clark School
429
Hawthorne School
417
Paxson School
415
Chief Charlo School
414
Meadow Hill Middle School
414
Rattlesnake Elementary School
393
Russell School
375
Lowell School
354
Franklin School
274

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
Compare vs Missoula Elem →
Great Falls Elem
7,032 students · 17 schools · $13,469/pupil
Compare vs Missoula Elem →
Billings H S
5,610 students · 3 schools · $12,352/pupil
Compare vs Missoula Elem →
Helena Elem
5,225 students · 13 schools · $14,602/pupil
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Bozeman Elem
4,651 students · 11 schools · $12,124/pupil
Compare vs Missoula Elem →

Compare Missoula 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 Missoula Elem?

Missoula Elem has 12 schools, including 3 middle, 9 other. Total enrollment is 5,280 students.

How much does Missoula Elem spend per student?

Missoula Elem spends $13,532 per student. The district has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #78 in Montana.

What is the average teacher salary in Missoula Elem?

The average teacher salary in Missoula Elem is $82,081 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Missoula Elem?

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

What is the demographic composition of Missoula Elem?

Missoula Elem students are 81.1% White, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% African American, 1.8% Asian, averaged across 12 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Missoula Elem?

Missoula Elem has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #78 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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