Ruder Elementary School (Ranked Top 50% for 2025-26)

1500 12th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912

( shown in map)

Top 50%

Serving 546 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Ruder Elementary School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Montana for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 44% (which is higher than the Montana state average of 37%). The percentage of students achieving is 47% (which is higher than the Montana state average of 46%).

The student-teacher ratio of 15:1 is higher than the Montana state level of 12:1.

Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Montana state average of 23% (majority American Indian).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 546 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 16%
: Top 50% in MT
: 44% (Top 50%)
: 47% (Btm 50%)
: 30-34% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

School Overview

Ruder Elementary School's student population of 546 students has grown by 17% over five school years.

The teacher population of 37 teachers has grown by 27% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Ruder Elementary School
Kind	83
1	80
2	101
3	84
4	96
5	102

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Total Students

546 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School
2023	563
2022	522
2021	458
2020	463
2019	463
2018	465
2017	465
2016	454
2015	467
2014	454
2013	451
2012	425
2011	434
2010	431
2009	448
2008	465
2007	490
2006	479
2005	472
2004	483
2003	483
2002	493
2001	514
2000	498
1999	485
1998	492
1997	529
1996	424
1995	392
1994	377
1993	420
1992	447
1991	446
1990	168
1989	163
1988	161
1987	243

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

37 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School
2023	35
2022	32
2021	30
2020	29
2019	29
2018	29
2017	29
2016	28
2015	28
2014	27
2013	28
2012	28
2011	26
2010	25
2009	26
2008	26
2007	26
2006	25
2005	25
2004	25
2003	23
2002	28
2001	28
2000	27
1999	24
1998	24
1997	26
1996	22
1995	20
1994	19
1993	20
1992	17
1991	19
1990	9
1989	9
1988	8
1987	8

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School Calendar

School Motto

Home of the Wildcats

School Rankings

Ruder Elementary School ranks within the top 50% of all 696 schools in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Ruder Elementary School is 0.29, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.40. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (MT)

#327 out of 696 schools
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School
2023	#327
2022	#347
2021	#364
2019	#95
2018	#36
2017	#71
2016	#78
2015	#21
2013	#200
2012	#113
2011	#168

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44%

37%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	44%	37%	34%
2022	42%	35%	31%
2021	43%	36%	32%
2019	56%	42%	45%
2018	62%	42%	44%
2017	61%	41%	43%
2016	53%	43%	42%
2015	58%	40%	38%
2013	70%	66%	64%
2012	77%	68%	69%
2011	74%	68%	65%

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47%

46%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2022	47%	46%	47%
2021	48%	47%	45%
2019	60%	50%	58%
2018	72%	51%	44%
2017	64%	51%	62%
2016	64%	50%	62%
2015	72%	48%	63%
2013	88%	84%	85%
2012	91%	86%	88%
2011	89%	84%	85%
2010	84%	84%	83%

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30-34%

37%

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

12:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	16:1	12:1	14:1
2022	16:1	12:1	15:1
2021	15:1	12:1	14:1
2020	16:1	12:1	15:1
2019	16:1	12:1	15:1
2018	16:1	14:1	15:1
2017	16:1	12:1	15:1
2016	16:1	14:1	14:1
2015	17:1	14:1	15:1
2014	17:1	12:1	15:1
2013	16:1	12:1	15:1
2012	15:1	12:1	14:1
2011	17:1	12:1	15:1
2010	17:1	11:1	15:1
2009	17:1	11:1	15:1
2008	18:1	11:1	16:1
2007	19:1	13:1	17:1
2006	19:1	13:1	16:1
2005	19:1	13:1	18:1
2004	19:1	13:1	18:1
2003	21:1	14:1	19:1
2002	18:1	13:1	17:1
2001	18:1	14:1	17:1
2000	18:1	14:1	17:1
1999	20:1	15:1	18:1
1998	21:1	14:1	18:1
1997	20:1	14:1	19:1
1996	19:1	14:1	19:1
1995	19:1	14:1	19:1
1994	20:1	14:1	20:1
1993	21:1	13:1	18:1
1992	27:1	15:1	23:1
1991	24:1	14:1	21:1
1990	19:1	13:1	19:1
1989	18:1	14:1	24:1
1988	20:1	14:1	18:1
1987	30:1	15:1	22:1

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American Indian

10%

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	1%	10%	2%
2022	1%	11%	1%
2021	1%	11%	2%
2020	1%	11%	3%
2019	1%	11%	3%
2018	1%	12%	1%
2017	1%	12%	1%
2016	1%	12%	2%
2015	1%	11%	2%
2014	1%	11%	2%
2013	2%	11%	2%
2012	2%	12%	3%
2011	1%	11%	2%
2010	2%	12%	3%
2009	2%	12%	4%
2008	1%	11%	4%
2007	1%	12%	4%
2006	1%	12%	5%
2005	1%	11%	3%
2004	1%	11%	3%
2003	2%	11%	3%
2002	3%	11%	3%
2001	3%	11%	5%
2000	2%	11%	4%
1999	5%	10%	4%
1998	3%	10%	4%
1997	3%	10%	3%
1996	1%	10%	3%
1995	7%	10%	5%
1994	5%	10%	4%
1993	5%	9%	5%

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Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2010)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2010	1%	1%	2%
2009	1%	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%	1%
2001	2%	1%	1%
2000	1%	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%	1%
1997	2%	1%	1%
1995	3%	1%	1%
1994	1%	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%	1%
1992	1%	1%	1%
1991	1%	1%	1%

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Hispanic

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	5%	6%	5%
2022	4%	5%	5%
2021	4%	5%	5%
2020	3%	5%	4%
2019	3%	5%	4%
2018	2%	4%	4%
2017	2%	4%	4%
2016	2%	4%	3%
2015	2%	4%	3%
2014	4%	4%	4%
2013	3%	4%	4%
2012	3%	4%	4%
2011	3%	4%	4%
2010	2%	3%	3%
2009	2%	3%	3%
2008	2%	3%	2%
2007	2%	2%	2%
2006	1%	2%	2%
2005	1%	2%	2%
2002	1%	2%	2%
2001	1%	2%	2%
1999	3%	2%	2%
1998	3%	1%	2%
1997	1%	2%	1%
1993	1%	1%	1%

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Black

n/a

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1998-2021)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2021	1%	1%
2010	1%	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%	1%
2003	2%	1%	1%
2002	2%	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%	1%

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White

84%

77%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	88%	77%	87%
2022	88%	78%	88%
2021	86%	78%	87%
2020	89%	78%	87%
2019	89%	78%	87%
2018	88%	79%	89%
2017	88%	79%	89%
2016	90%	79%	89%
2015	91%	80%	90%
2014	90%	80%	89%
2013	89%	81%	88%
2012	89%	81%	89%
2011	91%	82%	90%
2010	94%	83%	91%
2009	94%	83%	91%
2008	96%	84%	92%
2007	95%	84%	92%
2006	96%	85%	91%
2005	95%	85%	93%
2004	97%	85%	94%
2003	96%	85%	94%
2002	93%	85%	93%
2001	93%	85%	92%
2000	97%	86%	94%
1999	91%	86%	93%
1998	92%	87%	92%
1997	94%	87%	95%
1996	99%	88%	96%
1995	90%	88%	93%
1994	94%	88%	94%
1993	93%	88%	93%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	6%	5%	6%
2022	7%	4%	6%
2021	8%	4%	6%
2020	7%	4%	6%
2019	7%	4%	6%
2018	9%	3%	6%
2017	9%	3%	6%
2016	7%	3%	6%
2015	6%	3%	5%
2014	5%	3%	5%
2013	6%	2%	5%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.29

0.40

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	0.22	0.39	0.23
2022	0.22	0.38	0.22
2021	0.25	0.38	0.24
2020	0.20	0.38	0.24
2019	0.20	0.38	0.24
2018	0.22	0.36	0.21
2017	0.22	0.36	0.21
2016	0.19	0.36	0.21
2015	0.17	0.35	0.20
2014	0.19	0.35	0.21
2013	0.21	0.33	0.22
2012	0.21	0.34	0.20
2011	0.17	0.33	0.20
2010	0.12	0.30	0.17
2009	0.12	0.29	0.17
2008	0.08	0.28	0.15
2007	0.10	0.28	0.15
2006	0.08	0.27	0.16
2005	0.10	0.27	0.14
2004	0.06	0.27	0.12
2003	0.08	0.27	0.12
2002	0.13	0.26	0.13
2001	0.13	0.26	0.15
2000	0.06	0.25	0.12
1999	0.16	0.24	0.13
1998	0.14	0.24	0.14
1997	0.12	0.24	0.10
1996	0.03	0.22	0.08
1995	0.20	0.22	0.14
1994	0.13	0.22	0.10
1993	0.13	0.22	0.13

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

53%

42%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	31%	37%	39%
2022	33%	37%	40%
2021	38%	38%	42%
2020	37%	38%	43%
2019	37%	38%	43%
2018	36%	40%	41%
2017	36%	40%	41%
2016	36%	39%	42%
2015	41%	37%	45%
2014	39%	34%	43%
2013	39%	34%	42%
2012	37%	33%	39%
2011	38%	33%	42%
2010	30%	31%	38%
2009	25%	27%	32%
2008	34%	27%	39%
2007	24%	26%	29%
2006	27%	26%	32%
2005	27%	25%	31%
2004	30%	26%	33%
2003	24%	24%	30%
2002	29%	23%	32%
2001	31%	23%	31%
2000	31%	24%	31%
1999	30%	23%	32%
1998	28%	23%	31%
1997	24%	23%	28%
1996	20%	22%	27%
1995	22%	22%	28%
1994	21%	22%	26%
1993	21%	22%	27%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Ruder Elementary School	Montana	Columbia Falls Elementary School District
2023	5%	5%	7%
2022	6%	5%	7%
2021	7%	6%	7%
2020	11%	6%	11%
2019	11%	6%	11%
2018	6%	6%	7%
2017	6%	6%	7%
2016	6%	5%	7%
2015	9%	7%	9%
2014	8%	7%	8%
2013	12%	8%	13%
2012	8%	7%	9%
2011	10%	8%	12%
2010	14%	8%	13%
2009	10%	10%	11%
2008	11%	9%	11%
2007	9%	8%	10%
2006	11%	8%	12%
2005	9%	8%	11%
2004	10%	8%	10%
2003	11%	8%	9%
2002	13%	8%	11%
2001	11%	8%	10%
2000	14%	8%	11%
1999	10%	7%	9%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Columbia Falls Elementary School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ruder Elementary School's ranking?

Ruder Elementary School is ranked #327 out of 696 schools, which ranks it among the top 50% of public schools in Montana.

What schools are Ruder Elementary School often compared to?

Ruder Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Glacier Gateway Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

44% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 37% MT state average), while 47% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 46% MT state average).

How many students attend Ruder Elementary School?

546 students attend Ruder Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

84% of Ruder Elementary School students are White, 9% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are American Indian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Ruder Elementary School?

Ruder Elementary School has a student ration of 15:1, which is higher than the Montana state average of 12:1.

What grades does Ruder Elementary School offer ?

Ruder Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Ruder Elementary School part of?

Ruder Elementary School is part of Columbia Falls Elementary School District.