Polson H S

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.

Polson, Montana - 1 schools

An equity score of 37/100 ranks Polson H S #68 of 141 districts in Montana (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,826 per pupil, Polson H S ranks #254 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending (Montana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

524
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$13,826
Per-Pupil Spending
High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Polson H S operates 1 public schools serving 524 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high 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 Lake County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,826 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 46.4% local, 38.0% state, and 15.5% 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 37/100, ranked #68 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 1 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 258.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 61.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 59.8% White, 2.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Polson High School, enrolling 517 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Polson High School accounts for 98.7% of all Polson H S student enrollment

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

Polson H S student-counselor ratio is 259:1 — 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 Polson H S is typically wider than the Polson H S-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Polson H S chronic absenteeism rate is 61.5% — 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?

15.5%
Federal
38.0%
State
46.4%
Local

Funding Equity

37
Equity Score
68 / 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 1 schools in Polson H S.

White 59.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.3%
African American 0.8%
Asian 1.0%
Multiracial 2.9%
Other 33.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 1
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
258.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
61.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Polson H S

School Enrollment
Polson High School
517

How Polson H S Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Montana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Three Forks Elem Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Malta K-12 Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Havre H S Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Hardin H S Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Wolf Point Elem Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

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

Compare Polson H S

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 Polson H S?

Polson H S has 1 school, including 1 high. Total enrollment is 524 students.

How much does Polson H S spend per student?

Polson H S spends $13,826 per student. The district has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #68 in Montana.

What is the demographic composition of Polson H S?

Polson H S students are 59.8% White, 2.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% Asian, 0.8% African American, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Polson H S?

Polson H S has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #68 out of 141 districts in Montana.