Top Rankings
Columbus Elementary School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there is 1 public preschool serving 320 students in Columbus Elementary School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public pre schools in Montana.
Public Preschool in Columbus Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public preschool average of 23% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
2 Schools
391 Schools
# Students
496 Students
64,779 Students
# Teachers
30 Teachers
4,819 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Columbus Elementary School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 333 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
Overall District Rank
#60 out of 350 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
37%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
46%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55-59%
37%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.19
0.40
% American Indian
2%
10%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
5%
6%
% Black
1%
1%
% White
90%
77%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,877 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,312. The school district revenue/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,355 is less than the state median of $15,401. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$2,285 MM
Spending
$6 MM
$2,298 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,877
$15,312
Spending / Student
$12,355
$15,401
Best Columbus Elementary School District Public Preschools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Columbus Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
218 E 1st Ave N
Columbus, MT 59019
(406) 322-5372
Columbus, MT 59019
(406) 322-5372
Gr: PK-5 | 320 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Recent Articles
School Vouchers: Updated Pros and Cons (2025 Review)
Comprehensive 2025 analysis of school vouchers, weighing benefits and challenges for families, funding, outcomes, and policy directions.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Homework in 2025
Explore updated 2025 insights on homework’s benefits, drawbacks, mental health impact, best practices, and policy trends in U.S. public schools.
Charter Schools vs Public Schools 2025: Key Differences & Trends
Explore updated 2025 insights comparing charter schools vs public schools, enrollment, academic outcomes, funding, and real-world examples for families and educators.
