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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Cascade County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 44 public schools serving 11,512 students in Cascade County, MT (there are 7 private schools, serving 883 private students). 93% of all K-12 students in Cascade County, MT are educated in public schools (compared to the MT state average of 93%).
The top-ranked public schools in Cascade County, MT are Belt 7-8, Meadow Lark School and Cascade 6-8. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cascade County, MT public schools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the Montana public school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 46% statewide average). Schools in Cascade County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of Montana public schools.
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is more than the Montana public school average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Best Public Schools in Cascade County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Belt 7-8
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1 Church Street
Belt, MT 59412
(406) 277-3351
Gr: 7-8 | 55 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #22.
Meadow Lark School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2204 Fox Farm Road
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7300
Gr: PK-6 | 527 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #33.
Cascade 6-8
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
321 Central Ave W
Cascade, MT 59421
(406) 468-2267
Gr: 6-8 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #44.
Belt School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1 Church Street
Belt, MT 59412
(406) 277-3351
Gr: PK-6 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #55.
Fort Shaw Elementary School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
School Loop Road
Simms, MT 59477
(406) 264-5110
Gr: PK-5 | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #66.
Belt High School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1 Church Street
Belt, MT 59412
(406) 277-3351
Gr: 9-12 | 92 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #77.
Cascade Colony School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
508 Birdtail Road
Simms, MT 59477
(406) 264-5104
Gr: PK-8 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #88.
Centerville High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
693 Stockett Rd
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5167
Gr: 9-12 | 73 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #99.
Grass Land Colony School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
714 Eden Rd
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5322
Gr: PK-8 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #1010.
Hillcrest Colony Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1124 Wilson Road
Vaughn, MT 59487
(406) 463-2236
Gr: PK-8 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #1111.
Loy School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
501 57th Street North
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6885
Gr: PK-6 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1212.
Sacajawea School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
630 Sacajawea Drive
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7080
Gr: PK-6 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1313.
Cascade School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
321 Central Ave W
Cascade, MT 59421
(406) 468-2671
Gr: PK-5 | 144 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1414.
North Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2601 8th Street Ne
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6525
Gr: 7-8 | 764 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1515.
Riverview School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
100 Smelter Avenue
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7015
Gr: PK-6 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #1616.
Big Stone School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
251 Goonhill Road
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5167
Gr: PK-8 | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
Rank: #1717.
Lincoln School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
624 27th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6800
Gr: PK-6 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1818.
Centerville 6-8
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
693 Stockett Rd
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5167
Gr: 6-8 | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1919.
Ulm Junior High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6 Ulm Vaughn Road
Ulm, MT 59485
(406) 866-3313
Gr: 6-8 | 15 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #2020.
Centerville School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
693 Stockett Rd
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5167
Gr: PK-5 | 120 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #2121.
Ulm School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6 Ulm-vaughn Road
Ulm, MT 59485
(406) 866-3313
Gr: PK-5 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #2222.
Chief Joseph School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5305 3rd Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6675
Gr: PK-6 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2323.
Vaughn 6-8
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
480 Central Avenue
Vaughn, MT 59487
(406) 965-2231
Gr: 6-8 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2424.
Simms High School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
123 Walker Street
Simms, MT 59477
(406) 264-5110
Gr: 9-12 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2525.
Pleasant Valley School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
734 Mccoy Rd
Belt, MT 59412
(406) 277-3351
Gr: PK-8 | 24 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Rank: #2626.
Sun River Middle School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
123 Walker Street
Simms, MT 59477
(406) 264-5110
Gr: 6-8 | 55 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
C M Russell High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
228 17th Avenue Nw
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6100
Gr: 9-12 | 1,412 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Sunnyside School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1800 19th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7115
Gr: PK-6 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #2929.
East Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4040 Central Avenue
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6500
Gr: 7-8 | 764 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #3030.
Lewis & Clark School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3800 1st Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6705
Gr: PK-6 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #3131.
Cascade High School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
321 Central Ave W
Cascade, MT 59421
(406) 468-2267
Gr: 9-12 | 111 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #3232.
Giant Springs Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
520 32nd Street North
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7045
Gr: PK-6 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #3333.
Mountain View School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3420 15th Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7305
Gr: PK-6 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #3434.
Hill Top Colony School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
909 Spring Creek Road
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5169
Gr: PK-8 | 19 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Great Falls High School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 2nd Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6250
Gr: 9-12 | 1,548 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Show 9 more public schools in Cascade County, MT (out of 44 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Cascade County, MT?
The top-ranked public schools in Cascade County, MT include Belt 7-8, Meadow Lark School and Cascade 6-8.
How many public schools are located in Cascade County?
43 public schools are located in Cascade County.
What percentage of students in Cascade County go to public school?
93% of all K-12 students in Cascade County are educated in public schools (compared to the MT state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cascade County?
Cascade County public schools minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is more than the Montana public schools average of 24% (majority American Indian).
Which public schools in Cascade County are often viewed compared to one another?

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