For the 2025-26 school year, there are 26 public preschools serving 6,775 students in Flathead County, MT.
The top ranked public preschools in Flathead County, MT are West Glacier School, Deer Park School and Lakeside Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Flathead County, MT public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 47% statewide average). Pre schools in Flathead County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Montana public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public preschool average of 23% (majority American Indian).
Best Public Preschools in Flathead County (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
West Glacier School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
160 Old Bridge Road
West Glacier, MT 59936
(406) 888-5312
West Glacier, MT 59936
(406) 888-5312
Gr: PK-6 | 73 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Deer Park School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2105 Middle Road
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-5388
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-5388
Gr: PK-5 | 125 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #33.
Lakeside Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
255 Adams Street
Somers, MT 59932
(406) 844-2208
Somers, MT 59932
(406) 844-2208
Gr: PK-4 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #44.
Lillian Peterson School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1119 2nd Street W
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3737
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3737
Gr: PK-5 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #55.
L A Muldown School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1300 East 7th St.
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8620
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8620
Gr: PK-4 | 672 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #66.
West Valley School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2290 Farm To Market Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7239
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7239
Gr: PK-4 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #77.
Edgerton School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1400 Whitefish Stage
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4040
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4040
Gr: PK-5 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #88.
Creston School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4495 Montana 35
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-2859
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-2859
Gr: PK-6 | 104 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #99.
Russell School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
227 West Nevada
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3900
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3900
Gr: PK-5 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Bissell School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5955 Farm To Market Road
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-2828
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-2828
Gr: PK-6 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Fair-mont-egan School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
797 Fairmont Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7072
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-7072
Gr: PK-5 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1212.
Bigfork Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 Commerce St
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7412
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7412
Gr: PK-6 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1313.
Jeannette Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2155 Airport Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3400
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Cayuse Prairie School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
897 Lake Blaine Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4560
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4560
Gr: PK-6 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Cornelius Hedges School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
827 4th Avenue E
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4090
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4090
Gr: PK-5 | 320 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1616.
Ruder Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1500 12th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6570
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6570
Gr: PK-5 | 546 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
East Evergreen School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
585 E. Evergreen
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Gr: PK-4 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Elrod School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
412 3rd Avenue W
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3700
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3700
Gr: PK-5 | 211 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1919.
Helena Flats School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1000 Helena Flats Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 257-2301
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 257-2301
Gr: PK-6 | 240 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #2020.
Swan River School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1205 Swan Highway
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-4528
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-4528
Gr: PK-5 | 111 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #2121.
Glacier Gateway Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Gr: PK-5 | 496 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Kila School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
395 Kila Road
Kila, MT 59920
(406) 257-2428
Kila, MT 59920
(406) 257-2428
Gr: PK-6 | 135 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Smith Valley Primary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2901 Hwy 2 West
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4535
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4535
Gr: PK-6 | 155 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #2424.
Marion School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
205 Gopher Lane
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 854-2333
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 854-2333
Gr: PK-6 | 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: n/an/a
7975 Pleasant Valley Road
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 858-2343
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 858-2343
Gr: PK-8 | 9 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
Rank: n/an/a
40224 Salmon Prairie Rd
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 754-2245
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 754-2245
Gr: PK-8 | 4 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
Flathead County 51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
200 North St
Hungry Horse, MT 59919
(406) 387-5323
Hungry Horse, MT 59919
(406) 387-5323
Gr: PK-5 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
1805 Talbot Rd
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Gr: 6 | 161 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
20 West Evergreen Drive
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1131
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1131
Gr: 5-6 | 174 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
233 First Ave East
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3990
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3990
Gr: 7 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Flathead County, MT?
The top ranked public preschools in Flathead County, MT include West Glacier School, Deer Park School and Lakeside Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Flathead County?
26 public preschools are located in Flathead County.
What is the racial composition of students in Flathead County?
Flathead County public preschools minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public preschools average of 23% (majority American Indian).
Which public preschools in Flathead County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Flathead County include: Ruder Elementary School vs. Glacier Gateway Elementary School, Swan River School vs. Bigfork Elementary School, Glacier Gateway Elementary School vs. Ruder Elementary School
Recent Articles
10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.
COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. 51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.
