Superintendent Arntzen Releases 2023-2024 Public, Private, and Homeschool Enrollment Data

• Brian O'Leary
• April 30 2024

HELENA - Superintendent Elsie Arntzen released the final 2023-2024 public and non-public school enrollment data. Montana public schools are required to send enrollment data, per Montana statute, to the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) to calculate school funding. These enrollment numbers are part of the Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculation, through our state public school funding formula.

“This data reflects families that are moving out of state and parents that desire more engagement in their children’s education through homeschooling,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Like all Montana families, our public school districts are facing budget constraints due to increasing costs and inflation. Montana schools must prioritize student learning in their budgets as this decrease leads to fewer state dollars.”

From the 2010-2011 through the 2022-2023 school years, public school enrollment consistently increased with a slight decrease during the current year. Public school enrollment during the 2023-2024 school year shows:

• The total K-12 student enrollment of 148,585 students is a decrease of 1,988 students or 1.3% from the previous year.
• The elementary student enrollment of 103,439 students is a decrease of 1,827 students or 1.7% from the previous year.
• The high school student enrollment of 45,089 students is a decrease of 154 students or 0.3% from the previous year.
• The Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind combined enrollment of 57 students is a decrease of 7 students or 10.9% from the previous year.

Non-public student enrollment includes both private school and homeschooled students. The 2023-2024 non-public student enrollment shows:

• A total of 17,108 students, which is an increase of 403 students or 2.4% from the previous year.
  • There were 8,584 private school students, which is a decrease of 382 students or 3.6% from the previous year.
  • There were 8,524 homeschooled students, which is an increase of 725 students or 9.3% from the previous year.