State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Arntzen Releases Preliminary Fall Enrollment Numbers
HELENA - Superintendent Elsie Arntzen released Montana's preliminary fall 2024 student enrollment numbers for public schools. The Office of Public Instruction must collect enrollment data from Montana school districts every October and February according to § 20-9-311, MCA. The public school enrollment data are part of the Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculation for school funding. The funding formula is based on factors that include student enrollment on two count dates, Pupil-Instruction-Related (PIR) days, and an average school year of 180 days. ANB is used to determine multiple entitlements and funding opportunities that are used to calculate the school BASE and maximum general fund budget limits for the following fiscal year.
“A promise is a promise, which is why my top legislative ask each session has been to prioritize school funding,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Investing in our children creates a stronger future for our great state. I appreciate all of our Montana school districts for submitting their student count data this fall.”
Montana’s preliminary adjusted student enrollment count for ANB, fall 2024 is 145,650. The 2024 preliminary public school adjusted student count for ANB decreased by 1,702 students, or 1.2%, from the fall 2023 adjusted student count for ANB. The historical fall public school adjusted student count for ANB was:
- 2024: 145,650*
- 2023: 147,352
- 2022: 149,189
- 2021: 147,961
- 2020: 144,219
- 2019: 148,198
*This data is considered preliminary and may change slightly over the next few weeks as school districts have until December 31st to change or certify their data.
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