For the 2025 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 42% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 41%), 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)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
West Glacier School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
160 Old Bridge Road
West Glacier, MT 59936
(406) 888-5312
West Glacier, MT 59936
(406) 888-5312
Grades: PK-6
| 73 students
Rank: #22.
Deer Park School
(Math: 60-69% | 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
Grades: PK-5
| 125 students
Rank: #33.
Lakeside Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
255 Adams Street
Somers, MT 59932
(406) 844-2208
Somers, MT 59932
(406) 844-2208
Grades: PK-4
| 279 students
Rank: #44.
Lillian Peterson School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1119 2nd Street W
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3737
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3737
Grades: PK-5
| 351 students
Rank: #55.
Edgerton School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1400 Whitefish Stage
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4040
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4040
Grades: PK-5
| 509 students
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
Grades: PK-4
| 422 students
Rank: #77.
L A Muldown School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1300 East 7th St.
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8620
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8620
Grades: PK-4
| 672 students
Rank: #88.
Creston School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4495 Montana 35
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-2859
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-2859
Grades: PK-6
| 104 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 216 students
Rank: #1010.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 101 students
Rank: #1111.
Bigfork Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
600 Commerce St
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7412
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7412
Grades: PK-6
| 445 students
Rank: #1212.
Bissell School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5955 Farm To Market Road
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-2828
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-2828
Grades: PK-6
| 74 students
Rank: #1313.
Jeannette Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2155 Airport Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3400
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3400
Grades: PK-5
| 426 students
Rank: #1414.
Ruder Elementary School
(Math: 42% | 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
Grades: PK-5
| 546 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Cayuse Prairie School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
897 Lake Blaine Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4560
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-4560
Grades: PK-6
| 259 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Cornelius Hedges School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
827 4th Avenue E
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4090
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-4090
Grades: PK-5
| 320 students
Rank: #1717.
East Evergreen School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
585 E. Evergreen
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Grades: PK-4
| 351 students
Rank: #1818.
Elrod School
(Math: 25-29% | 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
Grades: PK-5
| 211 students
Rank: #19 - 2119. - 21.
Helena Flats School
(Math: 25-29% | 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
Grades: PK-6
| 240 students
Rank: #19 - 2119. - 21.
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
Grades: PK-6
| 135 students
Rank: #19 - 2119. - 21.
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
Grades: PK-6
| 155 students
Rank: #2222.
Marion School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
205 Gopher Lane
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 854-2333
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 854-2333
Grades: PK-6
| 141 students
Rank: #2323.
Swan River School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1205 Swan Highway
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-4528
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-4528
Grades: PK-5
| 111 students
Rank: #2424.
Glacier Gateway Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6540
Grades: PK-5
| 496 students
Rank: n/an/a
7975 Pleasant Valley Road
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 858-2343
Marion, MT 59925
(406) 858-2343
Grades: PK-8
| 9 students
Rank: n/an/a
40224 Salmon Prairie Rd
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 754-2245
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 754-2245
Grades: PK-8
| 4 students
Flathead County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
200 North St
Hungry Horse, MT 59919
(406) 387-5323
Hungry Horse, MT 59919
(406) 387-5323
Grades: PK-5
| 91 students
1805 Talbot Rd
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
(406) 892-6530
Grades: 6
| 161 students
20 West Evergreen Drive
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1131
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1131
Grades: 5-6
| 174 students
233 First Ave East
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3990
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-3990
Grades: 7
| 292 students
600 East Second St
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8650
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 862-8650
Grades: 5-6
| n/a students
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. Flathead County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in Montana.
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
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