Photo: Montanabw · CC BY-SA 3.0Great Falls’s public schools outscore 60% of Montana districts
The grade covers the two public school districts serving Great Falls, 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.
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.
Great Falls’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 161 Montana towns with household incomes within a quarter of Great Falls’s, its schools beat 53%, lower than their 60% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 46% and math 35% across both districts in spring 2022, against 46% and 35% statewide; 83% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Great Falls Elementary spends $12,441 per student and Great Falls High $11,284, against $13,570 across Montana (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Foothills Community Christian High School (private), Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School (private) and Great Falls Central Catholic High School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
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.
What’s behind Great Falls’s grade
B: better than 60% of Montana school districts, #21 of 41 Montana towns. Test scores are above the Montana average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Great Falls, with each school’s own grade.
7th grade in Great Falls · depends on your address
East Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 764 students · 13:1 students per teacher
North Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 764 students · 15:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Great Falls · depends on your address
East Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 764 students · 13:1 students per teacher
North Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 764 students · 15:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Great Falls · depends on your address
Great Falls High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,548 students · 15:1 students per teacher
C M Russell High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,412 students · 16:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Great Falls · depends on your address
Great Falls High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,548 students · 15:1 students per teacher
C M Russell High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,412 students · 16:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Great Falls · depends on your address
Great Falls High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,548 students · 15:1 students per teacher
C M Russell High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,412 students · 16:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Great Falls · depends on your address
Great Falls High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,548 students · 15:1 students per teacher
C M Russell High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,412 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Great Falls runs its own schools through grade 8 (Great Falls Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Great Falls High School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Great Falls
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Close to the state in reading
Great Falls vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Montana towns that share Great Falls’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | B | Great Falls Elementary PK–8 · Great Falls High 9–12 |
Every school in Great Falls
22 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).
Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (MT Sch For Deaf & Blnd HS and MT Sch For Deaf & Blnd El).
Questions about Great Falls’s schools
Are Great Falls’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Montana: the public schools Great Falls children attend outscore 60% of Montana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #21 of 41 Montana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 53%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Great Falls in?
Two districts: Great Falls Elementary School District runs grades PK–8, and Great Falls High School District runs grades 9–12.
Where do Great Falls kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Great Falls High School and C M Russell High School.
What is Great Falls’s graduation rate?
83% of the class of 2023 in Great Falls High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Montana.
How much does Great Falls spend per student?
$12,441 in Great Falls Elementary School District and $11,284 in Great Falls High School District (FY2024), against $13,570 across Montana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Great Falls?
Yes: Foothills Community Christian High School (religious, grades PK–12, 228 students), Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 208 students) and Great Falls Central Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 56 students).
Parents talk
What Great Falls families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Great 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.