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Public School Review - Established 2003

Columbia Falls Elementary School District

501 6th Ave West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Tel: (406) 892-6550
cfmtschools.net

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 2026 school year, there are 3 public schools serving 1,505 students in Columbia Falls Elementary School District. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Montana.
Public Schools in Columbia Falls Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the Montana public 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 school average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
3 Schools
845 Schools
# Students
1,505 Students
147,515 Students
# Teachers
104 Teachers
10,737 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
Pre-K118
Kind12225
116526
215028
318529
415929
516629
617529
718828
818429
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District Rank

Columbia Falls Elementary School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 335 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (MT)
#112 out of 350 school districts
(Top 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School District
2023#112
2022#194
2021#210
2019#109
2018#153
2017#99
2016#96
2015#120
2014#8
2013#171
2012#146
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34%
37%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
202334%37%
202231%35%
202132%36%
201945%42%
201844%42%
201743%41%
201642%43%
201538%40%
201450%70%
201364%66%
201269%68%
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47%
46%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
202247%46%
202145%47%
201958%50%
201844%51%
201762%51%
201662%50%
201563%48%
201450%70%
201385%84%
201288%86%
201185%84%
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41%
37%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.26
0.40

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
20240.250.39
20230.230.39
20220.220.38
20210.240.38
20200.240.38
20190.240.38
20180.210.36
20170.210.36
20160.210.36
20150.200.35
20140.210.35
20130.220.33
20120.200.34
20110.200.33
20100.170.30
20090.170.29
20080.150.28
20070.150.28
20060.160.27
20050.140.27
20040.120.27
20030.120.27
20020.130.26
20010.150.26
20000.120.25
19990.130.24
19980.140.24
19970.100.24
19960.080.22
19950.140.22
19940.100.22
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% American Indian
1%
10%

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
20242%10%
20232%10%
20221%11%
20212%11%
20203%11%
20193%11%
20181%12%
20171%12%
20162%12%
20152%11%
20142%11%
20132%11%
20123%12%
20112%11%
20103%12%
20094%12%
20084%11%
20074%12%
20065%12%
20053%11%
20043%11%
20033%11%
20023%11%
20015%11%
20004%11%
19994%10%
19984%10%
19973%10%
19963%10%
19955%10%
19944%10%
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% Asian
n/a
1%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2013)

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
20131%1%
20102%1%
20091%1%
20081%1%
20071%1%
20061%1%
20051%1%
20041%1%
20031%1%
20021%1%
20011%1%
20001%1%
19991%1%
19981%1%
19971%1%
19951%1%
19941%1%
19931%1%
19921%1%
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% Hispanic
6%
7%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
20245%6%
20235%6%
20225%5%
20215%5%
20204%5%
20194%5%
20184%4%
20174%4%
20163%4%
20153%4%
20144%4%
20134%4%
20124%4%
20114%4%
20103%3%
20093%3%
20082%3%
20072%2%
20062%2%
20052%2%
20041%2%
20031%2%
20022%2%
20012%2%
20001%2%
19992%2%
19982%1%
19971%2%
19961%1%
19951%1%
19941%1%
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% Black
n/a
1%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1998-2011)

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
20111%1%
20101%1%
20091%1%
20081%1%
20071%1%
20051%1%
20041%1%
20031%1%
20021%1%
19981%1%
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% White
86%
76%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
202486%77%
202387%77%
202288%78%
202187%78%
202087%78%
201987%78%
201889%79%
201789%79%
201689%79%
201590%80%
201489%80%
201388%81%
201289%81%
201190%82%
201091%83%
200991%83%
200892%84%
200792%84%
200691%85%
200593%85%
200494%85%
200394%85%
200293%85%
200192%85%
200094%86%
199993%86%
199892%87%
199795%87%
199696%88%
199593%88%
199494%88%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
20247%5%
20236%5%
20226%4%
20216%4%
20206%4%
20196%4%
20186%3%
20176%3%
20166%3%
20155%3%
20145%3%
20135%2%
20124%1%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,029 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,490. The school district revenue/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,068 is higher than the state median of $15,580. The school district spending/student has grown by 67% over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (MT)
Total Revenue
$21 MM
$2,285 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$21 MM$2 MM
2022$18 MM$2 MM
2021$21 MM$2 MM
2020$18 MM$2 MM
2019$17 MM$2 MM
2018$17 MM$2 MM
2017$16 MM$2 MM
2016$15 MM$2 MM
2015$16 MM$2 MM
2014$15 MM$2 MM
2012$15 MM$2 MM
2011$15 MM$2 MM
2010$16 MM$2 MM
2009$15 MM$1 MM
2008$15 MM$2 MM
2007$13 MM$1 MM
2006$13 MM$1 MM
2005$12 MM$1 MM
2004$12 MM$1 MM
2003$11 MM$1 MM
2002$10 MM$1 MM
2001$10 MM$1 MM
2000$9 MM$1 MM
1999$8 MM$1 MM
1998$8 MM$1 MM
1997$8 MM$1 MM
1996$9 MM$1 MM
1995$7 MM$1 MM
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Spending
$32 MM
$2,298 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$32 MM$2 MM
2022$19 MM$2 MM
2021$32 MM$2 MM
2020$19 MM$2 MM
2019$17 MM$2 MM
2018$16 MM$2 MM
2017$15 MM$2 MM
2016$15 MM$2 MM
2015$16 MM$2 MM
2014$14 MM$2 MM
2012$15 MM$2 MM
2011$15 MM$2 MM
2010$16 MM$2 MM
2009$15 MM$1 MM
2008$14 MM$1 MM
2007$13 MM$1 MM
2006$13 MM$1 MM
2005$12 MM$1 MM
2004$13 MM$1 MM
2003$11 MM$1 MM
2002$12 MM$1 MM
2001$17 MM$1 MM
2000$10 MM$1 MM
1999$8 MM$1 MM
1998$8 MM$1 MM
1997$8 MM$1 MM
1996$8 MM$1 MM
1995$7 MM$1 MM
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Revenue / Student
$14,029
$15,490

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$13,517$17,353
2022$12,095$17,118
2021$14,764$18,438
2020$12,095$17,118
2019$11,975$16,964
2018$11,477$17,300
2017$10,839$17,087
2016$10,938$16,286
2015$11,361$15,305
2014$10,812$16,457
2012$10,988$16,184
2011$9,917$15,398
2010$10,510$15,305
2009$9,549$13,611
2008$9,260$14,981
2007$8,405$13,019
2006$8,146$12,206
2005$7,548$11,851
2004$6,866$11,519
2003$6,367$10,500
2002$6,155$10,028
2001$5,918$9,685
2000$5,075$9,308
1999$4,519$8,330
1998$4,593$8,573
1997$4,380$7,655
1995$4,316$7,082
1992$4,391$7,082
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Spending / Student
$21,068
$15,580

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$20,299$16,311
2022$12,548$16,545
2021$22,173$17,330
2020$12,548$16,545
2019$11,601$16,216
2018$11,008$17,245
2017$10,527$16,779
2016$10,348$16,362
2015$11,044$14,876
2014$10,086$16,381
2012$10,498$15,796
2011$9,924$15,854
2010$10,216$14,876
2009$9,471$13,259
2008$8,702$13,942
2007$7,964$12,364
2006$8,351$11,636
2005$7,134$11,089
2004$7,467$10,717
2003$6,293$10,434
2002$7,093$9,725
2001$10,107$9,463
2000$5,617$9,009
1999$4,563$8,277
1998$4,529$8,100
1997$4,352$7,814
1995$4,183$7,055
1992$3,884$6,494
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Best Columbia Falls Elementary School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Columbia Falls Jr High School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1805 Talbot Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Gr: 6-8 | 547 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
Ruder Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1500 12th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6570
Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #33.
Glacier Gateway Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Gr: PK-5 | 471 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Columbia Falls Elementary School District?
Columbia Falls Elementary School District manages 3 public schools serving 1,505 students.
What is the rank of Columbia Falls Elementary School District?
Columbia Falls Elementary School District is ranked #184 out of 335 school districts in Montana (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Montana school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia Falls Elementary School District?
86% of Columbia Falls Elementary School District students are White, 7% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Columbia Falls Elementary School District?
Columbia Falls Elementary School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the Montana state average of 14:1.
What is Columbia Falls Elementary School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $21,068 is higher than the state median of $15,580. The school district spending/student has grown by 67% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-08
  • Enrollment: 1,505 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 14%
  • : Top 50% in MT
  • : 34% (Top 50%)
  • : 47% (Top 50%)
  • : 41% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

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