Montesano School District

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.

Montesano, Washington - 3 schools

An equity score of 40/100 ranks Montesano School District #165 of 238 districts in Washington (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,690 per pupil, Montesano School District ranks #236 of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending (Washington districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,430
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$15,690
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Montesano School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,430 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 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 Grays Harbor County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,690 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending. See how Washington compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 17.3% local, 69.7% state, and 13.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 40/100, ranked #165 of 238 in Washington against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 349:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 15.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 75.6% White, 11.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Beacon Avenue Elementary School, with a diversity index of 43.1/100.

Its largest campus is Montesano Jr-Sr High, enrolling 698 students (49% of the district's total enrollment).

Montesano Jr-Sr High accounts for 48.7% of all Montesano School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Montesano School District a distant remainder — means Montesano School District-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

Montesano School District school enrollment varies 2.1× across entities

Montesano School District school enrollment ranges from 333 students (lowest) to 698 students (highest), a spread of 365 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

Montesano School District student-counselor ratio is 349:1 — 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 Montesano School District is typically wider than the Montesano School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Montesano School District chronic absenteeism rate is 15.2% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Montesano School District is typically wider than the Montesano School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

13.0%
Federal
69.7%
State
17.3%
Local

Funding Equity

40
Equity Score
165 / 238
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Montesano School District.

White 75.6%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
African American 0.7%
Asian 2.2%
Multiracial 8.5%
Other 1.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 40.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Montesano School District's schools, below the Washington average of 53.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Beacon Avenue Elementary School 43.1
  2. 2 Simpson Avenue Elementary 41.5
  3. 3 Montesano Jr-Sr High 37.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
349:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.2%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Montesano School District

School Enrollment
Montesano Jr-Sr High
698
Simpson Avenue Elementary
402
Beacon Avenue Elementary School
333

How Montesano School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Washington districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Nine Mile Falls School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Dieringer School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Kiona-Benton City School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Granger School District Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Castle Rock School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Montesano School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Washington

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Seattle School District No. 1
51,238 students · 109 schools · $20,430/pupil
Compare vs Montesano School District →
Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $16,269/pupil
Compare vs Montesano School District →
Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $17,305/pupil
Compare vs Montesano School District →
Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $17,575/pupil
Compare vs Montesano School District →
Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $17,678/pupil
Compare vs Montesano School District →

Compare Montesano School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Seattle School District No. 1 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Montesano School District?

Montesano School District has 3 schools, including 2 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,430 students.

How much does Montesano School District spend per student?

Montesano School District spends $15,690 per student. The district has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #165 in Washington.

What is the demographic composition of Montesano School District?

Montesano School District students are 75.6% White, 11.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% Asian, 0.7% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Montesano School District?

Montesano School District has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #165 out of 238 districts in Washington.