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 2 public preschools serving 958 students in Columbia Falls Elementary School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Montana.
Public Preschools in Columbia Falls Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public preschool average of 24% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
3 Schools
393 Schools
# Students
1,505 Students
63,101 Students
# Teachers
104 Teachers
4,706 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
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.
Overall District Rank
#112 out of 350 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
37%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
46%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
37%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.26
0.41
% American Indian
1%
10%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
6%
7%
% Black
n/a
1%
% White
86%
76%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
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.
Total Revenue
$21 MM
$2,285 MM
Spending
$32 MM
$2,298 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,029
$15,490
Spending / Student
$21,068
$15,580
Best Columbia Falls Elementary School District Public Preschools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Ruder Elementary School
(Math: 44% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Glacier Gateway Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Gr: PK-5 | 471 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
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