Public schools in Columbia Falls, MT
6 open public schools with an address in Columbia Falls, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,364
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.4:1
Montana median 11.8:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Columbia Falls public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Columbia Falls, MT: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,364 students, an average of 394 per school. The largest campus is Columbia Falls High Schl (691 students), and the largest elementary school is Ruder Elementary (487).
Columbia Falls Elem operates the most schools here (3), and 3 regular districts have at least one Columbia Falls campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.4:1, higher than the statewide school median of 11.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 94% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Columbia Falls
Elementary schools in Columbia Falls
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Park School Deer Park Elem | PK–05 | 120 | 13.5:1 | |
| Glacier Gateway Elem Columbia Falls Elem | PK–05 | 471 | 14.5:1 | |
| Ruder Elementary Columbia Falls Elem | PK–05 | 487 | 14.3:1 |
Middle schools in Columbia Falls
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Falls Jr HS Columbia Falls Elem | 06–08 | 547 | 15:1 | |
| Deer Park 6-8 Deer Park Elem | 06–08 | 48 | 12.3:1 |
High schools in Columbia Falls
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Falls High Schl Columbia Falls H S | 09–12 | 691 | 15.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White86.1%
- Hispanic5.6%
- Black0.1%
- Asian0.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Columbia Falls schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,364 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Columbia Falls
How many public schools are in Columbia Falls, MT?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Columbia Falls: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 2,364 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Columbia Falls?
Schools with an address in Columbia Falls belong to 3 education agencies, led by Columbia Falls Elem (3 schools), Deer Park Elem (2 schools), Columbia Falls H S (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Columbia Falls?
Columbia Falls High Schl reported the largest high-school enrollment in Columbia Falls, with 691 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Columbia Falls?
No school with an address in Columbia Falls is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Montana.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Columbia Falls schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Columbia Falls public schools is 14.4:1, higher than the Montana school median of 11.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Columbia Falls guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Montana cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Montana cities