Kalispell Elementary School District

233 First Ave East
Kalispell, MT 59901
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 6 public preschools serving 2,048 students in Kalispell Elementary School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public pre schools in Montana.
Public Preschools in Kalispell Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (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
7 Schools
393 Schools
# Students
3,097 Students
63,101 Students
# Teachers
194 Teachers
4,706 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Kalispell Elementary School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 335 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)
#45 out of 350 school districts
(Top 20%)
46%
37%
56%
46%
47%
37%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.27
0.41
% American Indian
1%
10%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
7%
7%
% Black
n/a
1%
% White
85%
76%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,728 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,490. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,023 is less than the state median of $15,580. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MT)
Total Revenue
$39 MM
$2,285 MM
Spending
$37 MM
$2,298 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,728
$15,490
Spending / Student
$12,023
$15,580

Best Kalispell Elementary School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: PK-08
  • Enrollment: 3,097 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 15%
  • : Top 20% in MT
  • : 46% (Top 20%)
  • : 56% (Top 20%)
  • : 47% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

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