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Bigfork, MontanaPhoto: Katie Brady from Missoula, Montana, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
B+
Schools in Bigfork · Bigfork High School District, Bigfork Elementary School District

Bigfork’s public schools outscore 74% of Montana districts

58% of students in Bigfork’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the Montana average (46%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Bigfork, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Montana, not nationally.

#10of 41 Montana townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Montana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
58%
▲ 12 pts vs MT 46%
2021–22
Math proficiency
33%
▼ 2 pts vs MT 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 4–8 pts vs MT 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$10.7K
▼ 21% vs MT $13.6K
FY2024 · Bigfork Elementary
Students per teacher
14.4
MT 13.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
1,070 students on the public path
In brief

Bigfork’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 123 Montana towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bigfork’s, its schools beat 67%, lower than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 58% and math 33% across its districts in spring 2022, against 46% and 35% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Bigfork High spends $13,352 per student and Bigfork Elementary $10,729, against $13,570 across Montana (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then two middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bigfork’s grade

B+ Test scoresA− Graduation

B+: better than 74% of Montana school districts, #10 of 41 Montana towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Montana average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Montana school districts we grade (241)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
Montana towns with similar household incomes (123)Better than 67%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 651 test results and a graduating class of 78 could put Bigfork anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Bigfork’s students in the tested grades sat them (653 in math, 651 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bigfork, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB to A−
9–12Bigfork High SchoolBigfork High School DistrictC+

To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Bigfork

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bigfork High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 333 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 13.8 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$13,352MT $13,570 · FY2024
B+
Bigfork Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 579 students · 15.9 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$10,729MT $13,570 · FY2024
A−
Swan River Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 158 students, down 12% since 2020–21 · 11.6 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$9,872MT $13,570 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Bigfork High School District52%
State average 45.7% · 76 students tested
Math · 9–12, Bigfork High School District27%
State average 35.2% · 77 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Bigfork Elementary School District61%
State average 45.7% · 434 students tested
Math · PK–8, Bigfork Elementary School District36%
State average 35.2% · 435 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Swan River Elementary School District52%
State average 45.7% · 141 students tested
Math · PK–8, Swan River Elementary School District27%
State average 35.2% · 141 students tested

Bigfork vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Montana towns that share Bigfork’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BigforkB+Bigfork Elementary PK–8 · Swan River Elementary PK–8 · Bigfork High 9–12

Every school in Bigfork

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Montana’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bigforkby address
Bigfork Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
343 students13:1Rate it →
Swan River School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
106 students13:1Rate it →
Bigfork 6-8
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
236 students24:1Rate it →
Swan River 6-8
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
52 students10:1Rate it →
Bigfork High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
333 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Bigfork’s schools

Are Bigfork’s schools good?

By Montana’s own tests, yes: the public schools Bigfork children attend outscore 74% of Montana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #10 of 41 Montana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 67%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bigfork in?

Bigfork High School District, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 333 students in 1 schools (2024–25).

Where do Bigfork kids go to high school?

Bigfork High School, with 333 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Bigfork’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Bigfork High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Montana.

How much does Bigfork spend per student?

$13,352 in Bigfork High School District, $10,729 in Bigfork Elementary School District and $9,872 in Swan River Elementary School District (FY2024), against $13,570 across Montana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Bigfork families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bigfork → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Montana. Stars are from neighbors.