- Enrollment
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Laurel, MT
West School
Federal NCES profile for West School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 301620000499
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Montana median.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Laurel · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- students per teacher
- 248
- students enrolled
West School has class sizes near the Montana median. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Laurel, MT.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
West School held near 264 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 19.8 → 17.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 301620000499 · Laurel, MT Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
248 enr · 13.1:1 · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Laurel Middle School (506 students)
West School held near 264 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 19.8 → 17.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
West School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Laurel Middle
Laurel Middle School
506 students
- This school
West School
248 students
- Fred W Graff S
Fred W Graff School
245 students
- South School 158
South School
158 students
What this shows West School reports 248 students on the CCD universe file.
How West School compares
West School 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 | 13.1:1 | ▲ 11% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 248 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
248
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 59% in Montana - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.4%
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
$12,438
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
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 85.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
Two or More 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 85.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.6, West School is more mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
District finance for Laurel Elem reports $12,438 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fred W Graff School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| South School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 245
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 158
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Laurel
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~248 students)
Frequently asked questions about West School
How many students attend West School?
West School has 248 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Laurel, MT. CCD year-over-year: 256 (2022-23) → 264 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West School?
The student-teacher ratio at West School is 13.1:1, which is 11% 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 West School?
The largest demographic group at West School is White at 85.1% of enrollment, in Laurel, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West School?
West School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 West School rank among elementary schools in Laurel?
By Resource Investment Index, West School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Laurel, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Laurel on the city page.
What other schools are in Laurel Elem?
Besides West School, Laurel Elem also operates Laurel Middle School (506 students), Fred W Graff School (245 students), and South School (158 students). See the Laurel Elem district page for the complete list.