Columbia Falls Elementary School District

501 6th Ave West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

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.
This School District
State Average (MT)
#194 out of 350 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Columbia Falls Elementary  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
31%
35%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Columbia Falls Elementary  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Montana by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
47%
46%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Columbia Falls Elementary  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Montana by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
41%
37%

Students by Ethnicity:

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.
This School District
This State (MT)
Total Revenue
$21 MM
$2,285 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Columbia Falls Elementary  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Montana by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$32 MM
$2,298 MM
This chart displays total spending of Columbia Falls Elementary  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Montana by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$13,321
$15,263
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Columbia Falls Elementary  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Montana by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$20,004
$15,352
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Columbia Falls Elementary  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Montana by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Columbia Falls Elementary School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Columbia Falls Jr High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1805 Talbot Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Grades: 6-8
| 543 students
Rank: #22.
Ruder Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1500 12th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6570
Grades: PK-5
| 546 students
Rank: #33.
Glacier Gateway Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Grades: PK-5
| 496 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-08
  • Enrollment: 1,585 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 14%
  • : Bottom 50% in MT
  • : 31% (Btm 50%)
  • : 47% (Top 50%)
  • : 41% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

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