For the 2025 school year, there are 23 blue ribbon public preschools serving 6,863 students in Montana.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in Montana are Anderson School, Morning Star School and Longfellow School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Montana blue ribbon public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public preschool average of 23% (majority American Indian).
Best Blue Ribbon Public Preschools in Montana (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Anderson School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
10040 Cottonwood Road
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 587-1305
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 587-1305
Gr: PK-6 | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Morning Star School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
830 Arnold St
Bozeman, MT 59771
(406) 522-6500
Bozeman, MT 59771
(406) 522-6500
Gr: PK-5 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #33.
Longfellow School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
516 S Tracy
Bozeman, MT 59771
(406) 522-6150
Bozeman, MT 59771
(406) 522-6150
Gr: PK-5 | 273 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #44.
Jeannette Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5150 Bigfork Rd.
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4010
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4010
Gr: PK-5 | 463 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #55.
Meadow Lark School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2204 Fox Farm Road
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7300
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7300
Gr: PK-6 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Fort Benton School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1406 Franklin
Fort Benton, MT 59442
(406) 622-3761
Fort Benton, MT 59442
(406) 622-3761
Gr: PK-6 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Ridge View Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
117 Green Belt Drive
Belgrade, MT 59714
(406) 388-4534
Belgrade, MT 59714
(406) 388-4534
Gr: PK-4 | 454 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #88.
Manhattan Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
416 North Broadway
Manhattan, MT 59741
(406) 284-3250
Manhattan, MT 59741
(406) 284-3250
Gr: PK-5 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #99.
Deer Park School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2105 Middle Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-5388
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-5388
Gr: PK-5 | 125 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #1010.
Fairfield Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
13 7th Street
Fairfield, MT 59436
(406) 467-2425
Fairfield, MT 59436
(406) 467-2425
Gr: PK-6 | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Clancy School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
18 Clancy Creek Rd
Clancy, MT 59634
(406) 933-5531
Clancy, MT 59634
(406) 933-5531
Gr: PK-6 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Montana City School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
11 Mcclellan Creek Road
Clancy, MT 59634
(406) 442-6779
Clancy, MT 59634
(406) 442-6779
Gr: PK-5 | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1313.
Russell School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3216 Russell Street
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4080
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4080
Gr: PK-5 | 385 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1414.
Margaret Leary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1301 4 Mile Vue Rd
Butte, MT 59701
(406) 533-2550
Butte, MT 59701
(406) 533-2550
Gr: PK-6 | 361 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1515.
Russell School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
227 West Nevada
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3900
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3900
Gr: PK-5 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1616.
Heck/quaw Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
308 N Broadway
Belgrade, MT 59714
(406) 924-2120
Belgrade, MT 59714
(406) 924-2120
Gr: PK-4 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1717.
Chief Joseph School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5305 3rd Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6675
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6675
Gr: PK-6 | 262 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1818.
Plentywood School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
100 East Laurel Avenue
Plentywood, MT 59254
(406) 765-1803
Plentywood, MT 59254
(406) 765-1803
Gr: PK-6 | 197 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1919.
Franklin School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1910 S. 11th St
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4020
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4020
Gr: PK-5 | 282 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #2020.
Elrod School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
412 3rd Avenue W
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3700
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3700
Gr: PK-5 | 211 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #2121.
Huntley Project Elementary K-6
(Math: 38% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1477 Ash Street
Worden, MT 59088
(406) 967-2540
Worden, MT 59088
(406) 967-2540
Gr: PK-6 | 427 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Bryant School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1529 Boulder
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1200
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1200
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Smith Valley Primary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2901 Hwy 2 West
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4535
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4535
Gr: PK-6 | 155 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in Montana?
The top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in Montana include Anderson School, Morning Star School and Longfellow School.
How many blue ribbon public preschools are located in Montana?
23 blue ribbon public preschools are located in Montana.
What is the racial composition of students in Montana?
Montana blue ribbon public preschools minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public preschools average of 23% (majority American Indian).
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