Top Rankings
Columbia Falls Elementary School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 1,585 students in Columbia Falls Elementary School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Montana.
Public Elementary Schools in Columbia Falls Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the Montana public elementary school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public elementary school average of 24% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
3 Schools
519 Schools
# Students
1,585 Students
96,346 Students
# Teachers
108 Teachers
6,988 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
Columbia Falls Elementary School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 347 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
Overall District Rank
#194 out of 350 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
35%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
46%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
37%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.26
0.40
# American Indian Students
18 Students
10,163 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
11%
# Asian Students
n/a
554 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
1%
# Hispanic Students
89 Students
6,188 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
6%
# Black Students
1 Student
680 Students
% Black Students
n/a
1%
# White Students
1,356 Students
73,657 Students
% White Students
86%
76%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
169 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
119 Students
4,935 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
16
1,029
# Students in K Grade:
175
11,750
# Students in 1st Grade:
154
10,993
# Students in 2nd Grade:
187
11,771
# Students in 3rd Grade:
147
11,487
# Students in 4th Grade:
177
11,459
# Students in 5th Grade:
186
11,360
# Students in 6th Grade:
182
11,339
# Students in 7th Grade:
183
7,650
# Students in 8th Grade:
178
7,460
# Students in 9th Grade:
-
19
# Students in 10th Grade:
-
12
# Students in 11th Grade:
-
10
# Students in 12th Grade:
-
7
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,321 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,263. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,004 is higher than the state median of $15,352. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$21 MM
$2,285 MM
Spending
$32 MM
$2,298 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,321
$15,263
Spending / Student
$20,004
$15,352
Best Columbia Falls Elementary School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Columbia Falls Jr High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1805 Talbot Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Grades: 6-8
| 543 students
Rank: #22.
Ruder Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1500 12th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6570
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6570
Grades: PK-5
| 546 students
Rank: #33.
Glacier Gateway Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Grades: PK-5
| 496 students
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