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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Flathead County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 49 public schools serving 15,208 students in Flathead County, MT (there are 12 private schools, serving 1,447 private students). 91% of all K-12 students in Flathead County, MT are educated in public schools (compared to the MT state average of 93%).
The top-ranked public schools in Flathead County, MT are West Glacier School, Deer Park School and Lakeside Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Flathead County, MT public schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Montana public school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 46% statewide average). Schools in Flathead County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Montana public schools.
Minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public school average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Best Public Schools in Flathead County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
West Glacier School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
160 Old Bridge Road
West Glacier, MT 59936
(406) 888-5312
Gr: PK-6 | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Deer Park School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2105 Middle Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-5388
Gr: PK-5 | 120 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #33.
Lakeside Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
255 Adams Street
Somers, MT 59932
(406) 844-2208
Gr: PK-4 | 303 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Lillian Peterson School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1119 2nd Street W
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3737
Gr: PK-5 | 344 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Somers Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
315 School Addition Rd
Somers, MT 59932
(406) 857-3661
Gr: 5-8 | 231 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #66.
Whitefish Middle 5-8
(Math: 52% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
600 East Second Street
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8650
Gr: 5-8 | 657 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #77.
L A Muldown School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1300 East 7th St.
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8620
Gr: PK-4 | 661 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #88.
West Valley School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2290 Farm To Market Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7239
Gr: PK-4 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #99.
Edgerton School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1400 Whitefish Stage
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4040
Gr: PK-5 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1010.
Creston School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4495 Montana 35
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-2859
Gr: PK-6 | 83 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #1111.
Kila 7-8
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
395 Kila Road
Kila, MT 59920
(406) 257-2428
Gr: 7-8 | 42 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1212.
Whitefish High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1143 East 4th St.
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8600
Gr: 9-12 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #1313.
Russell School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
227 West Nevada
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3900
Gr: PK-5 | 223 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1414.
West Valley Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2290 Farm To Market Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7239
Gr: 5-8 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1515.
Cayuse Prairie 7-8
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
897 Lake Blaine Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4560
Gr: 7-8 | 57 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1616.
Deer Park 6-8
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2105 Middle Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-5388
Gr: 6-8 | 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1717.
Kalispell Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
205 Nw Lane
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3800
Gr: 6-8 | 1,049 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Bissell School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
5955 Farm To Market Road
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-2828
Gr: PK-6 | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Fair-mont-egan School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
797 Fairmont Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7072
Gr: PK-5 | 115 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #2020.
Bigfork 6-8
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
600 Commerce St
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7412
Gr: 6-8 | 236 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #2121.
Bigfork Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
600 Commerce St
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7412
Gr: PK-5 | 343 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #2222.
Jeannette Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2155 Airport Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 415 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #2323.
Bissell 7-8
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
5955 Farm To Market Road
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-2828
Gr: 7-8 | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #2424.
Fair-mont-egan Middle School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
797 Fairmont Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7072
Gr: 6-8 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
Rank: #2525.
Bigfork High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
600 Commerce St
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7420
Gr: 9-12 | 333 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #2626.
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: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Cayuse Prairie School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
897 Lake Blaine Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4560
Gr: PK-6 | 254 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Cornelius Hedges School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
827 4th Avenue E
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4090
Gr: PK-5 | 320 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2929.
Flathead High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
644 4th Avenue West
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,541 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #3030.
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: #3131.
Marion 7-8
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
205 Gopher Lane
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 854-2333
Gr: 7-8 | 29 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Rank: #3232.
Glacier High School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
375 Wolfpack Way
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 758-8600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,402 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #3333.
Swan River 6-8
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1205 Swan Highway
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-4528
Gr: 6-8 | 52 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
East Evergreen School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
585 E. Evergreen
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Gr: PK-4 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
Elrod School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
412 3rd Avenue W
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3700
Gr: PK-5 | 237 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Show 14 more public schools in Flathead County, MT (out of 49 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Flathead County, MT?
The top-ranked public schools in Flathead County, MT include West Glacier School, Deer Park School and Lakeside Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Flathead County?
49 public schools are located in Flathead County.
What percentage of students in Flathead County go to public school?
91% of all K-12 students in Flathead County are educated in public schools (compared to the MT state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Flathead County?
Flathead County public schools minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public schools average of 24% (majority American Indian).
Which public schools in Flathead County are often viewed compared to one another?

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