Item: Cardwell Elementary School District
Rating: 6
Author: �鶹������ý

Home > Montana > Jefferson County

Cardwell Elementary School District

80 Highway 359
Cardwell, MT 59721

( shown in map)

Top 50%

Tel: (406) 287-3321

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Cardwell Elementary School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:

Category

Attribute

Reading/Language Arts Proficiency

Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)

Student Attention

Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)

For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public school serving 37 students in Cardwell Elementary School District. This district's average is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public schools in Montana.

Public School in Cardwell Elementary School District have an score of 50% (versus the Montana public school average of 37%), and score of 70% (versus the 46% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the Montana public school average of 23% (majority American Indian).

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This School District

This State (MT)

# Schools

1 School

839 Schools

# Students

37 Students

149,233 Students

# Teachers

5 Teachers

10,905 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

7:1

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
Pre-K	1	3
Kind	11	30
1	3	28
2	5	30
3	6	29
4	2	29
5	3	29
6	5	29
7	1	29

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="district-rank">District Rank

Cardwell Elementary School District, which is ranked within the top 5% of all 333 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.

This School District

State Average (MT)

#151 out of 350 school districts
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District
2023	#151
2022	#26
2021	#82
2019	#155
2018	#111
2017	#164
2016	#133
2013	#152
2012	#94
2011	#230
2010	#169

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(21-22)

40-59%

35%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2022	49%	35%
2021	50%	36%
2019	30%	42%
2018	49%	42%
2017	49%	41%
2016	49%	43%
2013	64%	66%
2012	84%	68%
2011	64%	68%
2010	64%	67%

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60-79%

46%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2022	69%	46%
2021	50%	47%
2019	69%	50%
2018	49%	51%
2017	49%	51%
2016	49%	50%
2013	84%	84%
2012	84%	86%
2011	74%	84%
2010	84%	84%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.29

0.40

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	0.32	0.39
2022	0.22	0.38
2021	0.12	0.38
2020	0.15	0.38
2019	0.15	0.38
2018	0.15	0.36
2017	0.15	0.36
2016	0.22	0.36
2015	0.12	0.35
2014	0.22	0.35
2013	0.24	0.33
2012	0.15	0.34
2011	0.15	0.33
2010	0.19	0.30
2009	0.12	0.29
2008	0.12	0.28
2007	0.15	0.28
2006	0.17	0.27
2005	0.13	0.27
2004	0.18	0.27
2003	0.15	0.27
2002	0.15	0.26
2001	0.22	0.26
2000	0.08	0.25
1999	0.08	0.24
1998	0.10	0.24
1997	0.10	0.24
1996	0.10	0.22

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% American Indian

10%

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	5%	10%
2022	3%	11%
2021	3%	11%
2020	3%	11%
2019	3%	11%
2018	4%	12%
2017	4%	12%
2016	4%	12%
2015	4%	11%
2014	4%	11%
2013	5%	11%
2012	2%	12%
2011	2%	11%
2010	8%	12%
2009	4%	12%
2008	4%	11%
2007	6%	12%
2006	7%	12%
2005	7%	11%
2004	10%	11%
2003	8%	11%
2002	8%	11%
2001	10%	11%
2000	4%	11%
1999	4%	10%
1998	5%	10%
1997	5%	10%
1996	5%	10%

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% Asian

n/a

% Hispanic

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	5%	6%
2022	3%	5%
2020	3%	5%
2019	3%	5%
2018	2%	4%
2017	2%	4%
2016	6%	4%
2014	4%	4%
2013	4%	4%
2012	4%	4%
2011	4%	4%

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% Black

n/a

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	3%	1%
2014	2%	1%
2013	2%	1%
2012	2%	1%
2011	2%	1%
2010	2%	1%
2009	2%	1%
2008	2%	1%
2007	2%	1%

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% White

84%

77%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	82%	77%
2022	88%	78%
2021	94%	78%
2020	92%	78%
2019	92%	78%
2018	92%	79%
2017	92%	79%
2016	88%	79%
2015	94%	80%
2014	88%	80%
2013	87%	81%
2012	92%	81%
2011	92%	82%
2010	90%	83%
2009	94%	83%
2008	94%	84%
2007	92%	84%
2006	91%	85%
2005	93%	85%
2004	90%	85%
2003	92%	85%
2002	92%	85%
2001	88%	85%
2000	96%	86%
1999	96%	86%
1998	95%	87%
1997	95%	87%
1996	95%	88%
1995	100%	88%
1994	100%	88%
1993	100%	88%

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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	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	5%	5%
2022	6%	4%
2021	3%	4%
2020	2%	4%
2019	2%	4%
2018	2%	3%
2017	2%	3%
2016	2%	3%
2015	2%	3%
2014	2%	3%
2013	2%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="district-revenue-and-spending">District Revenue and Spending

This School District

This State (MT)

Total Revenue

$594,000

$2,285 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	$1 MM	$2 MM
2022	$1 MM	$2 MM
2021	$1 MM	$2 MM
2020	$1 MM	$2 MM
2019	$1 MM	$2 MM
2018	$1 MM	$2 MM
2017	0	$2 MM
2016	$1 MM	$2 MM
2015	0	$2 MM
2014	$1 MM	$2 MM
2012	0	$2 MM
2011	0	$2 MM
2010	0	$2 MM
2009	0	$1 MM
2008	0	$2 MM
2007	0	$1 MM
2006	0	$1 MM
2005	0	$1 MM
2004	0	$1 MM
2003	0	$1 MM
2002	0	$1 MM
2001	0	$1 MM
2000	0	$1 MM
1999	0	$1 MM
1998	0	$1 MM
1997	0	$1 MM
1996	0	$1 MM
1995	0	$1 MM

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Spending

$523,000

$2,298 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Cardwell Elementary School District	Montana
2023	$1 MM	$2 MM
2022	0	$2 MM
2021	$1 MM	$2 MM
2020	0	$2 MM
2019	$1 MM	$2 MM
2018	$1 MM	$2 MM
2017	$1 MM	$2 MM
2016	0	$2 MM
2015	0	$2 MM
2014	$1 MM	$2 MM
2012	0	$2 MM
2011	0	$2 MM
2010	0	$2 MM
2009	0	$1 MM
2008	0	$1 MM
2007	0	$1 MM
2006	0	$1 MM
2005	0	$1 MM
2004	0	$1 MM
2003	0	$1 MM
2002	0	$1 MM
2001	0	$1 MM
2000	0	$1 MM
1999	0	$1 MM
1998	0	$1 MM
1997	0	$1 MM
1996	0	$1 MM
1995	0	$1 MM

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Revenue / Student (91-92)

$4,396

$7,082

Spending / Student (91-92)

$3,377

$6,494

Best Cardwell Elementary School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Cardwell School

(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 60-79%)
:

10/

Top 10%

80 Highway 359
Cardwell, MT 59721
(406) 287-3321

Gr: PK-8 | 37 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 16%

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Cardwell Elementary School District?

Cardwell Elementary School District manages 1 public schools serving 37 students.

What is the rank of Cardwell Elementary School District?

Cardwell Elementary School District is ranked #12 out of 333 school districts in Montana (top 5%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Montana school districts for: Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%) and Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Cardwell Elementary School District?

84% of Cardwell Elementary School District students are White, 6% of students are American Indian, 5% of students are Hispanic, and 5% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Cardwell Elementary School District?

Cardwell Elementary School District has a student/teacher ratio of 7:1, which is lower than the Montana state average of 14:1.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 1 school
Grades: PK-08
Enrollment: 37 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Minority Enrollment: 16%
: Top 50% in MT
: 40-59% (Btm 50%)
: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education