Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½

Columbus Elementary School District

433 N 3rd St
Columbus, MT 59019
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%
<Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">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 2026 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).
<Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ class='so-dt-title' id="overview">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
<Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade
<Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ class='so-dt-title' id="district-rank">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.
This School District
State Average (MT)
#60 out of 350 school districts
(Top 20%)
42%
37%
54%
46%
55-59%
37%
<Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:
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
<Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ class="so-dt-title" id="district-revenue-and-spending">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 grown by 14% 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 35% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MT)
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 (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Columbus Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
218 E 1st Ave N
Columbus, MT 59019
(406) 322-5372
Gr: PK-5 | 320 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 12%

Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Articles

Zero Tolerance Policies in Public Schools Today
Zero Tolerance Policies in Public Schools Today
An updated look at zero tolerance policies in public schools, including current trends, costs, legal concerns, and what parents need to know now.
The Pros and Cons of Tracking in Schools Today
The Pros and Cons of Tracking in Schools Today
Explore the advantages and drawbacks of academic tracking in today’s public schools, including equity, outcomes, and what parents should consider.
Budgeting Hidden Costs of Public Schooling in 2026
Budgeting Hidden Costs of Public Schooling in 2026
Learn how families budget for school lunch, after-school care, and activities, the hidden costs of public schooling in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 2 schools
  • Grades: PK-08
  • Enrollment: 496 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 10%
  • : Top 20% in MT
  • : 42% (Top 30%)
  • : 54% (Top 20%)
  • : 55-59% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

Quick Links