Missoula Elem

Missoula Elem is a city-based school district in Missoula County, Montana, serving 5,280 students across 12 schools comprising 9 elementary and 3 middle schools. The district operates with 370 teachers, maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1, slightly better than typical state averages.

The district experienced a 1.9% enrollment decline from the prior year, suggesting modest contraction in its student population. This modest decrease warrants monitoring to assess whether it reflects broader demographic trends in the region.

Financially, Missoula Elem operates a $77.5M total budget with a notably distinctive funding structure. Per-pupil spending of $7,827 falls substantially below Montana's state average of $11,207, representing approximately 70% of state per-pupil spending. This significant gap indicates the district operates with considerably fewer resources per student than the typical Montana district.

The district's revenue composition shows heavy reliance on local funding at 43.3%, supplemented by state contributions of 39.7% and federal funding at 17.0%. This local-dependent funding model suggests the district's financial sustainability is tied closely to its community's property tax base and ability to support local revenues.

The combination of below-average per-pupil spending, ongoing enrollment decline, and heavy local funding dependency presents a distinct financial profile that differs from statewide norms and may influence the district's resource allocation capacity.