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Public School Review - Established 2003

Polson Elementary School District

111 4th Avenue East
Polson, MT 59860
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
6/
10
Top 50%
Tel: (406) 883-6355
www.polson.k12.mt.us

Top Rankings

Polson Elementary School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public schools serving 1,075 students in Polson Elementary School District. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Montana.
Public Schools in Polson Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 32% (versus the Montana public school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the Montana public school average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
3 Schools
845 Schools
# Students
1,075 Students
147,515 Students
# Teachers
72 Teachers
10,737 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradePolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
Pre-K438
Kind9125
110926
211328
312729
411529
511529
614629
710528
811129
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District Rank

Polson 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)
#173 out of 350 school districts
(Top 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearPolson Elementary School District
2023#173
2022#208
2021#250
2019#199
2018#176
2017#206
2016#175
2015#171
2014#8
2013#219
2012#214
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32%
37%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
202332%37%
202232%35%
202126%36%
201938%42%
201840%42%
201737%41%
201638%43%
201541%40%
201450%70%
201363%66%
201265%68%
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42%
46%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
202242%46%
202138%47%
201949%50%
201840%51%
201748%51%
201645%50%
201547%48%
201450%70%
201381%84%
201284%86%
201182%84%
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28%
37%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.55
0.40

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
20240.520.39
20230.510.39
20220.520.38
20210.520.38
20200.520.38
20190.520.38
20180.500.36
20170.500.36
20160.520.36
20150.520.35
20140.530.35
20130.530.33
20120.520.34
20110.520.33
20100.500.30
20090.510.29
20080.500.28
20070.520.28
20060.510.27
20050.490.27
20040.480.27
20030.470.27
20020.470.26
20010.450.26
20000.450.25
19990.430.24
19980.430.24
19970.420.24
19960.420.22
19950.420.22
19940.390.22
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% American Indian
36%
10%

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

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
202432%10%
202331%10%
202233%11%
202137%11%
202033%11%
201933%11%
201835%12%
201735%12%
201640%12%
201542%11%
201442%11%
201343%11%
201239%12%
201138%11%
201036%12%
200935%12%
200833%11%
200736%12%
200635%12%
200532%11%
200433%11%
200334%11%
200232%11%
200131%11%
200030%11%
199928%10%
199829%10%
199727%10%
199628%10%
199528%10%
199426%10%
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% Asian
1%
1%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2024)

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
20243%1%
20233%1%
20223%1%
20213%1%
20203%1%
20193%1%
20121%1%
20111%1%
20101%1%
20091%1%
20081%1%
20071%1%
20061%1%
20051%1%
20041%1%
20021%1%
20011%1%
20001%1%
19991%1%
19971%1%
19961%1%
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% Hispanic
3%
7%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2000-2024)

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
20245%6%
20234%6%
20224%5%
20213%5%
20203%5%
20193%5%
20183%4%
20173%4%
20161%4%
20152%4%
20142%4%
20132%4%
20122%4%
20112%4%
20102%3%
20092%3%
20083%3%
20073%2%
20063%2%
20054%2%
20041%2%
20031%2%
20021%2%
20011%2%
20001%2%
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% Black
1%
1%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2009-2024)

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
20243%1%
20233%1%
20223%1%
20213%1%
20203%1%
20193%1%
20183%1%
20173%1%
20161%1%
20151%1%
20141%1%
20131%1%
20121%1%
20111%1%
20091%1%
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% White
57%
76%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
202450%77%
202352%77%
202250%78%
202147%78%
202050%78%
201950%78%
201850%79%
201750%79%
201658%79%
201555%80%
201455%80%
201354%81%
201257%81%
201158%82%
201061%83%
200961%83%
200863%84%
200760%84%
200661%85%
200563%85%
200465%85%
200365%85%
200266%85%
200167%85%
200068%86%
199971%86%
199870%87%
199772%87%
199671%88%
199571%88%
199474%88%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2019-2024)

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
20243%5%
20233%5%
20223%4%
20213%4%
20203%4%
20193%4%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $21,107 is higher than the state median of $15,490. The school district revenue/student has grown by 51% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,846 is higher than the state median of $15,580. The school district spending/student has grown by 36% over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (MT)
Total Revenue
$23 MM
$2,285 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$23 MM$2 MM
2022$17 MM$2 MM
2021$23 MM$2 MM
2020$17 MM$2 MM
2019$13 MM$2 MM
2018$13 MM$2 MM
2017$12 MM$2 MM
2016$12 MM$2 MM
2015$12 MM$2 MM
2014$12 MM$2 MM
2012$12 MM$2 MM
2011$12 MM$2 MM
2010$12 MM$2 MM
2009$11 MM$1 MM
2008$12 MM$2 MM
2007$10 MM$1 MM
2006$9 MM$1 MM
2005$9 MM$1 MM
2004$9 MM$1 MM
2003$10 MM$1 MM
2002$10 MM$1 MM
2001$9 MM$1 MM
2000$9 MM$1 MM
1999$7 MM$1 MM
1998$6 MM$1 MM
1997$6 MM$1 MM
1996$6 MM$1 MM
1995$6 MM$1 MM
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Spending
$21 MM
$2,298 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$21 MM$2 MM
2022$17 MM$2 MM
2021$21 MM$2 MM
2020$17 MM$2 MM
2019$14 MM$2 MM
2018$13 MM$2 MM
2017$12 MM$2 MM
2016$12 MM$2 MM
2015$12 MM$2 MM
2014$12 MM$2 MM
2012$11 MM$2 MM
2011$12 MM$2 MM
2010$12 MM$2 MM
2009$11 MM$1 MM
2008$10 MM$1 MM
2007$12 MM$1 MM
2006$9 MM$1 MM
2005$8 MM$1 MM
2004$9 MM$1 MM
2003$9 MM$1 MM
2002$9 MM$1 MM
2001$8 MM$1 MM
2000$7 MM$1 MM
1999$6 MM$1 MM
1998$6 MM$1 MM
1997$5 MM$1 MM
1996$5 MM$1 MM
1995$5 MM$1 MM
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Revenue / Student
$21,107
$15,490

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$19,344$17,353
2022$13,955$17,118
2021$20,044$18,438
2020$13,955$17,118
2019$10,877$16,964
2018$11,020$17,300
2017$10,827$17,087
2016$10,705$16,286
2015$10,462$15,305
2014$10,330$16,457
2012$9,913$16,184
2011$10,307$15,398
2010$10,305$15,305
2009$9,494$13,611
2008$10,222$14,981
2007$8,607$13,019
2006$7,977$12,206
2005$7,720$11,851
2004$8,017$11,519
2003$8,276$10,500
2002$8,537$10,028
2001$7,958$9,685
2000$7,184$9,308
1999$5,762$8,330
1998$5,049$8,573
1997$4,442$7,655
1995$4,694$7,082
1992$4,137$7,082
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Spending / Student
$19,846
$15,580

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearPolson Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$18,188$16,311
2022$14,533$16,545
2021$18,846$17,330
2020$14,533$16,545
2019$11,749$16,216
2018$10,446$17,245
2017$10,214$16,779
2016$10,763$16,362
2015$9,921$14,876
2014$10,464$16,381
2012$9,670$15,796
2011$10,036$15,854
2010$9,773$14,876
2009$9,473$13,259
2008$9,184$13,942
2007$10,328$12,364
2006$8,210$11,636
2005$7,461$11,089
2004$7,712$10,717
2003$7,771$10,434
2002$7,581$9,725
2001$7,339$9,463
2000$5,493$9,009
1999$5,035$8,277
1998$4,619$8,100
1997$4,206$7,814
1995$4,249$7,055
1992$6,551$6,494
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Best Polson Elementary School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Linderman School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
312 4th Avenue East
Polson, MT 59860
(406) 883-6229
Gr: 2-4 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Polson Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1602 2nd Street West
Polson, MT 59860
(406) 883-6335
Gr: 5-8 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: n/an/a
Cherry Valley School
107 8th Avenue West
Polson, MT 59860
(406) 883-6333
Gr: PK-1 | 243 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Polson Elementary School District?
Polson Elementary School District manages 3 public schools serving 1,075 students.
What is the rank of Polson Elementary School District?
Polson Elementary School District is ranked #220 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: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Polson Elementary School District?
57% of Polson Elementary School District students are White, 36% of students are American Indian, 3% of students are Hispanic, 2% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Polson Elementary School District?
Polson Elementary School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is higher than the Montana state average of 14:1.
What is Polson Elementary School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $19,846 is higher than the state median of $15,580. The school district spending/student has grown by 36% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-08
  • Enrollment: 1,075 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 43%
  • : Top 50% in MT
  • : 32% (Top 50%)
  • : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • : 28% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

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