Three Forks 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.

Three Forks, Montana - 2 schools

An equity score of 26/100 ranks Three Forks Elem #106 of 141 districts in Montana (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,885 per pupil, Three Forks Elem ranks #375 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending (Montana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

523
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$9,885
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Three Forks Elem operates 2 public schools serving 523 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Montana. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 middle 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 Gallatin County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,885 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 40 of 394 Montana districts by per-pupil spending. See how Montana compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 36.1% local, 47.0% state, and 16.9% 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 26/100, ranked #106 of 141 in Montana against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 271.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 8.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 92.0% White, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Three Forks Elem School, enrolling 361 students (66% of the district's total enrollment).

Three Forks Elem School accounts for 66.5% of all Three Forks Elem student enrollment

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

Three Forks Elem student-counselor ratio is 272:1 — 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 Three Forks Elem is typically wider than the Three Forks Elem-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Three Forks Elem chronic absenteeism rate is 8.3% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

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

Where does the funding come from?

16.9%
Federal
47.0%
State
36.1%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
106 / 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 Three Forks Elem.

White 92.0%
Hispanic or Latino 4.3%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 1.8%
Other 1.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

271.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
8.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Three Forks Elem

School Enrollment
Three Forks Elem School
361
Three Forks 7-8
182

How Three Forks Elem Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Montana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

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

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

Compare Three Forks 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 Three Forks Elem?

Three Forks Elem has 2 schools, including 1 combined, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 523 students.

How much does Three Forks Elem spend per student?

Three Forks Elem spends $9,885 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #106 in Montana.

What is the demographic composition of Three Forks Elem?

Three Forks Elem students are 92.0% White, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Three Forks Elem?

Three Forks Elem has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #106 out of 141 districts in Montana.