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Flathead RiverPhoto: Mitchell O'Brien · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Columbia Falls · Columbia Falls Elementary School District, Columbia Falls High School District

Columbia Falls’s public schools score below 51% of Montana districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Columbia Falls, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 31% of students in Columbia Falls’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Montana average (35%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Montana, not nationally.

#25of 41 Montana townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Montana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
47%
▲ 1 pts vs MT 46%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 5 pts vs MT 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 0–4 pts vs MT 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.4K
▼ 9% vs MT $13.6K
FY2024 · Columbia Falls Elementary
Students per teacher
14.8
MT 13.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
4
2,196 students on the public path
In brief

Columbia Falls’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 155 Montana towns with household incomes within a quarter of Columbia Falls’s, its schools beat 39%, lower than their 49% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Columbia Falls runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Columbia Falls Jr HS (6–8) is Columbia Falls’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Columbia Falls High School District: Columbia Falls High Schl. The high school’s own results earn a C. See the path ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 47% and math 31% across both districts in spring 2022, against 46% and 35% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Columbia Falls Elementary spends $12,401 per student and Columbia Falls High $14,251, against $13,570 across Montana (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Columbia Falls’s grade

B− Test scoresB Graduation

B−: better than 49% of Montana school districts, #25 of 41 Montana towns. Graduation is above the Montana average; test scores are below it.

Montana school districts we grade (241)Better than 49%
Lower resultsHigher results
Montana towns with similar household incomes (155)Better than 39%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,154 test results and a graduating class of 166 could put Columbia Falls anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Columbia Falls’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,155 in math, 1,151 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+
6–8Columbia Falls Jr HSColumbia Falls Elementary School DistrictB−
9–12Columbia Falls High SchlColumbia Falls High School DistrictC

Columbia Falls runs its own schools through grade 8 (Columbia Falls Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Columbia Falls High School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Columbia Falls

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

Columbia Falls Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 3 schools · 1,505 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 14.6 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$12,401MT $13,570 · FY2024
B−
Columbia Falls High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 691 students, up 7% since 2020–21 · 15.3 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$14,251MT $13,570 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Columbia Falls Elementary School District47%
State average 45.7% · 1028 students tested
Math · PK–8, Columbia Falls Elementary School District31%
State average 35.2% · 1027 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Columbia Falls High School District47%
State average 45.7% · 123 students tested
Math · 9–12, Columbia Falls High School District27%
State average 35.2% · 128 students tested

Columbia Falls vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Columbia FallsB−Columbia Falls Elementary PK–8 · Columbia Falls High 9–12

Every school in Columbia Falls

4 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 Columbia Fallsby address
Ruder Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
487 students14:1Rate it →
Glacier Gateway Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
471 students14:1Rate it →
Columbia Falls Jr HS
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
547 students15:1Rate it →
Columbia Falls High Schl
High · Grades 9–12
C
691 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Columbia Falls’s schools

Are Columbia Falls’s schools good?

On Montana’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Columbia Falls children attend score below 51% of Montana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #25 of 41 Montana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 39%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Columbia Falls in?

Two districts: Columbia Falls Elementary School District runs grades PK–8, and Columbia Falls High School District runs grades 9–12.

Where do Columbia Falls kids go to high school?

Columbia Falls High Schl, with 691 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Columbia Falls’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Columbia Falls High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Montana.

How much does Columbia Falls spend per student?

$12,401 in Columbia Falls Elementary School District and $14,251 in Columbia Falls High School District (FY2024), against $13,570 across Montana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Columbia Falls families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Columbia Falls → 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.