Enrollment
248
Elementary
DISTRICT 217 · STATE 167
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·LAUREL ELEM·NCES 301620000499
West School
502 Eighth Avenue, Laurel, MT 59044 · (406) 628-6914 · Yellowstone County
GRADES 01–02ELEMENTARY31-TOWNTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL248 STUDENTS
·
allk12 Grade
Not graded
This school has no state test results for 2023-24 or 2024-25 to grade, which is common for schools that end before third grade. How grades work
Student : Teacher
13.9:1
18 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 14.5:1 · STATE 11.9:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
80%
198 students
DISTRICT 76% · STATE 58%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | 115 | 46% |
| Grade 2 | 133 | 54% |
Student demographics
27%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 23% · STATE 40% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
School pathway
Students here typically continue to
Feeds from
Based on grade levels within Laurel Elem. Attendance zones can vary; confirm enrollment with the district.
Schools most like West School
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| West School this school | 248 | 79.8% | N/A |
| Hillcrest School Harlowton | 195 | 76.4% | N/A |
| Fred W Graff School Laurel | 245 | 87.3% | N/A |
| Broadwater School Helena | 207 | 73.4% | N/A |
| Thompson Falls Elem Schl Thompson Falls | 240 | 91.3% | N/A |
| Mountain View School Great Falls | 315 | 80.6% | N/A |
Matched among Montana elementary schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where West School ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In Montana | In Yellowstone County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 248 | #132 of 421 | #29 of 39 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.9:1 | #59 of 160 | #9 of 31 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 26.7% | #100 of 160 | #29 of 31 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 79.8% | #64 of 226 | #6 of 35 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -46.2% | #3 of 107 | #1 of 13 |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
248
-8 (-3%) vs 2020
-32% since 1990-91, when it was 366
Student : Teacher
13.9:1
was 14.2:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 248 | 17.9 | 13.9:1 | 80% (198) |
| 2023-24 | 264 | 17.8 | 14.8:1 | 49% (130) |
| 2022-23 | 256 | 19.8 | 13.0:1 | N/A |
| 2020-21 | 256 | 18 | 14.2:1 | N/A |
| 2017-18 | 461 | 31.1 | 14.8:1 | 41% (190) |
| 2015-16 | 468 | 30 | 15.6:1 | 37% (172) |
| 2010-11 | 444 | 29 | 15.3:1 | 35% (155) |
| 2000-01 | 354 | 18 | 19.7:1 | 20% (72) |
| 1990-91 | 366 | 15 | 24.4:1 | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for West School.
Since 2017-18: students down 46% (461 to 248); teachers down 43% (31.1 to 17.9).
About West School
West School is a medium-sized elementary school in Laurel, Montana. Enrollment in 2024-25 was 248 students in grades 1 through 2. Against the 167-student average for elementary schools in Montana, enrollment here is 49% higher.
Laurel Elem (4 schools, 1,157 students) runs West School.
The student body at West School is 85% White. The rest of enrollment is 8% Hispanic and 5% multiracial. That is close to the 86% White share among all Yellowstone County residents. West School's diversity index is 27%, against a US figure of 70%.
Staffing totals 17.9 full-time-equivalent teachers, and the student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. On average, elementary schools in Montana have 11.9:1, compared with 13.9:1 here. The free or reduced-price lunch rate at West School is 80%. The gap from the 48% average for public schools in Yellowstone County is 32 points.
Census Bureau estimates for Yellowstone County show that the median household income is $76,570, the share of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher is 34%, and roughly 7% of residents are in poverty. West School is one of 68 public schools in the county.
The closest public school, Laurel High School, is about 0.7 miles from West School. Other public schools within five miles: 4.
For locale, NCES codes West School as Town: Fringe.
Enrollment has fallen by 8 students since 2020-21, to 248.
To ask about science fairs, picture day, and bus routes, start a discussion on this page. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.
Yellowstone County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
168,957
Census ACS
Median income
$76,570
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
34%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
7%
Below federal line
Schools in county
68
23,853 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Laurel Elem
- Laurel Middle SchoolMiddle · 506 students
- Fred W Graff SchoolElementary · 245 students
- South SchoolElementary · 158 students
Other schools in Laurel
- Laurel High SchoolHigh · 578 students
- Laurel Middle SchoolMiddle · 506 students
- Fred W Graff SchoolElementary · 245 students
- South SchoolElementary · 158 students
Other West schools
4 other US public schools in 5 states are named West. West School is the 5th largest of the 5.
- West SchoolNew Canaan, CT · 481 students
- WestHOLLAND, MI · 413 students
- West SchoolTOOELE, UT · 297 students
- West SchoolGlencoe, IL · 252 students
Nearby schools
- Laurel High School0.7 mi · 578
- Fred W Graff School0.8 mi · 245
- South School0.8 mi · 158
- Laurel Middle School1.0 mi · 506
- Yellowstone Academy Elem5.9 mi · 36
- Yellowstone Academy 7-85.9 mi · 16
Frequently asked questions
About West SchoolHow many students attend West School?
West School enrolls approximately 248 students in grades 01-02.
Is West School an elementary, middle, or high school?
West School is an elementary school covering grades 01-02.
How many students per teacher at West School?
Approximately 13.9:1 students per teacher at West School.
How diverse is West School?
West School reports a student body of 85% White, 8% Hispanic, 0% Black, 0% Asian, 5% Two or more.
Is West School public or private?
West School is a public K-12 school, overseen by Laurel Elem.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.