Item: Columbia Falls Elementary School District
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Columbia Falls Elementary School District

501 6th Ave West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912

( shown in map)

Top 50%

Tel: (406) 892-6550

Top Rankings

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

Overview

This School District

This State (MT)

# Schools

3 Schools

839 Schools

# Students

1,585 Students

149,233 Students

# Teachers

108 Teachers

10,905 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
Pre-K	16	3
Kind	175	30
1	154	28
2	187	30
3	147	29
4	177	29
5	186	29
6	182	29
7	183	29
8	178	29

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District Rank

Columbia Falls Elementary School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 333 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

This School District

State Average (MT)

#112 out of 350 school districts
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Columbia 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%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2023	34%	37%
2022	31%	35%
2021	32%	36%
2019	45%	42%
2018	44%	42%
2017	43%	41%
2016	42%	43%
2015	38%	40%
2014	50%	70%
2013	64%	66%
2012	69%	68%

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47%

46%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2022	47%	46%
2021	45%	47%
2019	58%	50%
2018	44%	51%
2017	62%	51%
2016	62%	50%
2015	63%	48%
2014	50%	70%
2013	85%	84%
2012	88%	86%
2011	85%	84%

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41%

37%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.26

0.40

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2023	0.23	0.39
2022	0.22	0.38
2021	0.24	0.38
2020	0.24	0.38
2019	0.24	0.38
2018	0.21	0.36
2017	0.21	0.36
2016	0.21	0.36
2015	0.20	0.35
2014	0.21	0.35
2013	0.22	0.33
2012	0.20	0.34
2011	0.20	0.33
2010	0.17	0.30
2009	0.17	0.29
2008	0.15	0.28
2007	0.15	0.28
2006	0.16	0.27
2005	0.14	0.27
2004	0.12	0.27
2003	0.12	0.27
2002	0.13	0.26
2001	0.15	0.26
2000	0.12	0.25
1999	0.13	0.24
1998	0.14	0.24
1997	0.10	0.24
1996	0.08	0.22
1995	0.14	0.22
1994	0.10	0.22
1993	0.13	0.22

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% American Indian

10%

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2023	2%	10%
2022	1%	11%
2021	2%	11%
2020	3%	11%
2019	3%	11%
2018	1%	12%
2017	1%	12%
2016	2%	12%
2015	2%	11%
2014	2%	11%
2013	2%	11%
2012	3%	12%
2011	2%	11%
2010	3%	12%
2009	4%	12%
2008	4%	11%
2007	4%	12%
2006	5%	12%
2005	3%	11%
2004	3%	11%
2003	3%	11%
2002	3%	11%
2001	5%	11%
2000	4%	11%
1999	4%	10%
1998	4%	10%
1997	3%	10%
1996	3%	10%
1995	5%	10%
1994	4%	10%
1993	5%	9%

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% Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2013)
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2013	1%	1%
2010	2%	1%
2009	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%
2000	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%
1994	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%
1992	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2023	5%	6%
2022	5%	5%
2021	5%	5%
2020	4%	5%
2019	4%	5%
2018	4%	4%
2017	4%	4%
2016	3%	4%
2015	3%	4%
2014	4%	4%
2013	4%	4%
2012	4%	4%
2011	4%	4%
2010	3%	3%
2009	3%	3%
2008	2%	3%
2007	2%	2%
2006	2%	2%
2005	2%	2%
2004	1%	2%
2003	1%	2%
2002	2%	2%
2001	2%	2%
2000	1%	2%
1999	2%	2%
1998	2%	1%
1997	1%	2%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%
1994	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%

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% Black

n/a

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1998-2011)
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2011	1%	1%
2010	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%

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% White

86%

77%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2023	87%	77%
2022	88%	78%
2021	87%	78%
2020	87%	78%
2019	87%	78%
2018	89%	79%
2017	89%	79%
2016	89%	79%
2015	90%	80%
2014	89%	80%
2013	88%	81%
2012	89%	81%
2011	90%	82%
2010	91%	83%
2009	91%	83%
2008	92%	84%
2007	92%	84%
2006	91%	85%
2005	93%	85%
2004	94%	85%
2003	94%	85%
2002	93%	85%
2001	92%	85%
2000	94%	86%
1999	93%	86%
1998	92%	87%
1997	95%	87%
1996	96%	88%
1995	93%	88%
1994	94%	88%
1993	93%	88%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
2023	6%	5%
2022	6%	4%
2021	6%	4%
2020	6%	4%
2019	6%	4%
2018	6%	3%
2017	6%	3%
2016	6%	3%
2015	5%	3%
2014	5%	3%
2013	5%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,321 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,312. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $20,004 is higher than the state median of $15,401. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.

This School District

This State (MT)

Total Revenue

$21 MM

$2,285 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
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

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
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

$13,321

$15,312

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
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

$20,004

$15,401

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Columbia Falls Elementary School District	Montana
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 (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Columbia Falls Jr High School

(Math: 31% | Reading: 55%)
:

Top 50%

Add to Compare

1805 Talbot Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530

Gr: 6-8 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 11%

Rank: #22.

Ruder Elementary School

(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
:

Top 50%

Add to Compare

1500 12th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6570

Gr: PK-5 | 546 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%

Rank: #33.

Glacier Gateway Elementary School

(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540

Gr: PK-5 | 496 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Columbia Falls Elementary School District?

Columbia Falls Elementary School District manages 3 public schools serving 1,585 students.

What is the rank of Columbia Falls Elementary School District?

Columbia Falls Elementary School District is ranked #180 out of 333 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 15:1, which is higher than 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 $20,004 is higher than the state median of $15,401. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

District size: 3 schools
Grades: PK-08
Enrollment: 1,585 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
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