Pioneer 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.

Billings, Montana - 1 schools

At $11,329 per pupil, Pioneer Elem ranks #339 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending (Montana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

72
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$11,329
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Pioneer Elem operates 1 public schools serving 72 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined 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 Yellowstone County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,329 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 35.4% local, 40.3% state, and 24.3% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one.

and 27.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 76.7% White, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Pioneer School, enrolling 73 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

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

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Pioneer Elem a distant remainder — means Pioneer 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

Pioneer Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 27.4% — 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 Pioneer Elem is typically wider than the Pioneer Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

24.3%
Federal
40.3%
State
35.4%
Local

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Pioneer Elem.

White 76.7%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
Multiracial 1.4%
Other 16.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

27.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Pioneer Elem

School Enrollment
Pioneer School
73

How Pioneer Elem Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Montana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Liberty Elem Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Absarokee H S Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Fortine Elem Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Pryor Elem Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Powder River Co Dist H S Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Pioneer 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 Pioneer Elem?

Pioneer Elem has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 72 students.

How much does Pioneer Elem spend per student?

Pioneer Elem spends $11,329 per student.

What is the demographic composition of Pioneer Elem?

Pioneer Elem students are 76.7% White, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.