- Enrollment
- 180
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Shepherd, MT
Shepherd Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Shepherd Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 302394000695
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shepherd Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Montana schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Shepherd · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.9:1
- large classes for Montana
- 342
- students enrolled
Shepherd Elementary has class sizes larger than 75% of Montana schools. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shepherd Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Shepherd, MT.
School address
District: Shepherd Elem · Montana
NCES ID 302394000695 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Shepherd Elementary held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 22.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 302394000695 · Shepherd, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
342 enr · 14.9:1 · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Shepherd Middle School (180 students)
Shepherd Elementary held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 22.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
How Shepherd Elementary compares
Shepherd Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▲ 26% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 342 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
342
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 75% in Montana - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.9%
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
$10,165
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 342 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.8%
African American 1.2%
Two or More 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 91.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.5, Shepherd Elementary is less mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
District finance for Shepherd Elem reports $10,165 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Shepherd Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherd Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shepherd Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~342 students)
Frequently asked questions about Shepherd Elementary
How many students attend Shepherd Elementary?
Shepherd Elementary has 342 students enrolled. It is a public school in Shepherd, MT. CCD year-over-year: 366 (2022-23) → 371 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shepherd Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Shepherd Elementary is 14.9:1, which is 26% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shepherd Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Shepherd Elementary is White at 91.2% of enrollment, in Shepherd, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shepherd Elementary?
Shepherd Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Shepherd Elementary rank among public schools in Shepherd?
By Resource Investment Index, Shepherd Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Shepherd, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Shepherd Elem?
Besides Shepherd Elementary, Shepherd Elem also operates Shepherd Middle School (180 students). See the Shepherd Elem district page for the complete list.