- Enrollment
- 17
- Students per teacher
- 8.5:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Whitefish, MT
Bissell School
Federal NCES profile for Bissell School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 301095000296
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bissell School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Montana median.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Whitefish · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 78
- students enrolled
Bissell School has class sizes near the Montana median. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bissell School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Whitefish, MT.
School address
District: Olney-Bissell Elem · Montana
NCES ID 301095000296 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Bissell School shrank from 89 students in 2022-23 to 74 in 2023-24 (-16.9%).
Teacher FTE added 6.4 → 8.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-15 students YoY 301095000296 · Whitefish, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
78 enr · 13:1 · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Bissell 7-8 (17 students)
Bissell School shrank from 89 students in 2022-23 to 74 in 2023-24 (-16.9%). Teacher FTE added 6.4 → 8.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
How Bissell School compares
Bissell School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▲ 10% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 78 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
78
Bigger than 8% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 58% in Montana - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,724
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,859
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.0%
Two or More 3.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.6%
Largest group: White at 91.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.9, Bissell School is less mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
District finance for Olney-Bissell Elem reports $12,724 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bissell School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bissell 7-8 | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bissell School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar other schools in Whitefish
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~78 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bissell School
How many students attend Bissell School?
Bissell School has 78 students enrolled. It is a public school in Whitefish, MT. CCD year-over-year: 89 (2022-23) → 74 (2023-24), down 15.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bissell School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bissell School is 13:1, which is 10% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bissell School?
The largest demographic group at Bissell School is White at 91.0% of enrollment, in Whitefish, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bissell School?
Bissell School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bissell School rank among public schools in Whitefish?
By Resource Investment Index, Bissell School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Whitefish, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Whitefish on the city page.
What other schools are in Olney-Bissell Elem?
Besides Bissell School, Olney-Bissell Elem also operates Bissell 7-8 (17 students). See the Olney-Bissell Elem district page for the complete list.