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Great Northern Railway Passenger and Freight Depot and Division OfficeGreat Northern Railway Passenger and Freight Depot and Division Office · Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0
A
Schools in Whitefish · Whitefish Elementary School District, Whitefish High School District

Whitefish’s public schools outscore 92% of Montana districts

On the state math tests, 51% of Whitefish’s students scored proficient, above the Montana average (35%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Whitefish, 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.

#3of 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
62%
▲ 16 pts vs MT 46%
2021–22
Math proficiency
51%
▲ 16 pts vs MT 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 4–8 pts vs MT 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.5K
▼ 8% vs MT $13.6K
FY2024 · Whitefish Elementary
Students per teacher
14.2
MT 13.7
Schools in town
4
1,936 students on the public path
In brief

Whitefish’s schools, in brief

Whitefish runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

L A Muldown School (PK–4) and Whitefish Middle 5-8 (5–8) are Whitefish’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Whitefish High School District: Whitefish High School. The high school’s own results earn an A−. See the path ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 62% and math 51% across both 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

Whitefish Elementary spends $12,455 per student and Whitefish High $14,719, against $13,570 across Montana (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Whitefish Christian Academy (private) is 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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Whitefish’s grade

A Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 92% of Montana school districts, #3 of 41 Montana towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Montana average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Montana school districts we grade (241)Better than 92%
Lower resultsHigher results
Montana towns with similar household incomes (156)Better than 93%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,060 test results and a graduating class of 133 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Whitefish’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,059 in math, 1,061 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4L A Muldown SchoolWhitefish Elementary School DistrictA
5–8Whitefish Middle 5-8Whitefish Elementary School DistrictB+
9–12Whitefish High SchoolWhitefish High School DistrictA−

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

Two districts serve Whitefish

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

Whitefish Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 1,318 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 14.1 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$12,455MT $13,570 · FY2024
A
Whitefish High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 618 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 14.3 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$14,719MT $13,570 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Whitefish Elementary School District62%
State average 45.7% · 934 students tested
Math · PK–8, Whitefish Elementary School District52%
State average 35.2% · 929 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Whitefish High School District62%
State average 45.7% · 127 students tested
Math · 9–12, Whitefish High School District42%
State average 35.2% · 130 students tested

Whitefish vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WhitefishAWhitefish Elementary PK–8 · Whitefish High 9–12

Every school in Whitefish

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 Whitefishby address
L A Muldown School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A
661 students13:1Rate it →
Whitefish Middle 5-8
Middle · Grades 5–8
B+
657 students15:1Rate it →
Whitefish High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
618 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Whitefish Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
138 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Whitefish’s schools

Are Whitefish’s schools good?

By Montana’s own tests, yes: the public schools Whitefish children attend outscore 92% of Montana’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #3 of 41 Montana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 93%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Whitefish in?

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

Where do Whitefish kids go to high school?

Whitefish High School, with 618 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Whitefish’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Whitefish spend per student?

$12,455 in Whitefish Elementary School District and $14,719 in Whitefish High School District (FY2024), against $13,570 across Montana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Whitefish?

Yes: Whitefish Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 138 students).

Parents talk

What Whitefish families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Whitefish → 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.