For the 2025 school year, there are 21 public preschools serving 5,744 students in Missoula County, MT. The top ranked public preschools in Missoula County, MT are Rattlesnake Elementary School, Jeannette Rankin Elementary School and Chief Charlo School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Missoula County, MT public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 47% statewide average). Pre schools in Missoula County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of Montana public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the Montana public preschool average of 23% (majority American Indian).
Best Public Preschools in Missoula County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Rattlesnake Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1220 Pineview Drive
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4050
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4050
Grades: PK-5
| 407 students
Rank: #22.
Jeannette Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5150 Bigfork Rd.
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4010
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4010
Grades: PK-5
| 463 students
Rank: #33.
Chief Charlo School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5600 Longview Dr
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4005
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4005
Grades: PK-5
| 417 students
Rank: #44.
Paxson School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
101 Evans
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4055
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4055
Grades: PK-5
| 418 students
Rank: #55.
Lewis & Clark School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2901 Park
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4035
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4035
Grades: PK-5
| 423 students
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Hawthorne School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
550 Hiberta St.
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4025
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4025
Grades: PK-5
| 377 students
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Russell School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3216 Russell Street
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4080
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4080
Grades: PK-5
| 385 students
Rank: #88.
Sunset School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5024 Sunset Hill Road
Bonner, MT 59823
(406) 244-5542
Bonner, MT 59823
(406) 244-5542
Grades: PK-8
| 11 students
Rank: #99.
Desmet School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6355 Padre Lane
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Grades: PK-5
| 92 students
Rank: #1010.
Potomac School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
29750 Potomac Road
Bonner, MT 59823
(406) 244-5581
Bonner, MT 59823
(406) 244-5581
Grades: PK-6
| 81 students
Rank: #1111.
Target Range School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4095 South Avenue West
Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 549-9239
Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 549-9239
Grades: PK-6
| 415 students
Rank: #1212.
Swan Valley School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6423 Highway 83
Condon, MT 59826
(406) 754-2320
Condon, MT 59826
(406) 754-2320
Grades: PK-6
| 26 students
Rank: #1313.
Frenchtown Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
16495 Main Street
Frenchtown, MT 59834
(406) 626-2620
Frenchtown, MT 59834
(406) 626-2620
Grades: PK-3
| 439 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Clinton School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
20397 E Mullan Rd
Clinton, MT 59825
(406) 825-3113
Clinton, MT 59825
(406) 825-3113
Grades: PK-6
| 188 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Lowell School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1215 Phillips St
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4040
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4040
Grades: PK-5
| 325 students
Rank: #1616.
Woodman School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
18470 Highway 12 West
Lolo, MT 59847
(406) 273-6770
Lolo, MT 59847
(406) 273-6770
Grades: PK-6
| 29 students
Rank: #1717.
Franklin School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1910 S. 11th St
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4020
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4020
Grades: PK-5
| 282 students
Rank: #1818.
Bonner School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
9045 Hwy 200 E
Bonner, MT 59823
(406) 258-6151
Bonner, MT 59823
(406) 258-6151
Grades: PK-5
| 229 students
Rank: #1919.
Lolo Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
11395 Highway 93 South
Lolo, MT 59847
(406) 273-6686
Lolo, MT 59847
(406) 273-6686
Grades: PK-4
| 306 students
Rank: #2020.
Seeley Lake Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
200 School Lane
Seeley Lake, MT 59868
(406) 677-2265
Seeley Lake, MT 59868
(406) 677-2265
Grades: PK-6
| 139 students
Rank: n/an/a
2365 Flynne Lane
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 721-2452
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 721-2452
Grades: PK-1
| 292 students
Missoula County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
215 South 6th West
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4050
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4050
Grades: K-3
| 232 students
Powell Ranger Station
Lolo, MT 59847
(208) 942-3161
Lolo, MT 59847
(208) 942-3161
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
215 South 6th West
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4065
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-4065
Grades: 4-5
| 133 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Missoula County, MT?
The top ranked public preschools in Missoula County, MT include Rattlesnake Elementary School, Jeannette Rankin Elementary School and Chief Charlo School. Missoula County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in Montana.
How many public preschools are located in Missoula County?
21 public preschools are located in Missoula County.
What is the racial composition of students in Missoula County?
Missoula County public preschools minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the Montana public preschools average of 23% (majority American Indian).
Which public preschools in Missoula County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Missoula County include: Bonner School vs. Desmet School, Franklin School vs. Hawthorne School, Desmet School vs. Target Range School
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