Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 3 schools in district

Glacier Gateway Elem

440 4th Avenue West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912Columbia Falls Elem →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–05Non-Charter
473
Students
Total enrolled
$25,195
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 76% vs nat'l
13.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 11% vs nat'l
42/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 16% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 473 students in grades PK–05 in Columbia Falls, Montana.
76% above average funding
District spends $25,195 per pupil, 76% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 42th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Glacier Gateway Elem is a mid-sized elementary in Columbia Falls, Montana, serving grades PK–05 with 473 students. The district invests $25,195 per student — 76% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1.

Student Body & Demographics at Glacier Gateway Elem

473
Total Students
13.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
—
Free Lunch
35
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution245 male · 228 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Student Composition
86%
White86%
Hispanic / Latino6%
Multiracial7%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 300711000196

Academic Outcomes at Glacier Gateway Elem

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
42
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 42th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 40th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 59912

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$25,195Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$25,195
State avg
$23,403
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$11,086
Student Support$4,787
Administration$3,023
Operations$3,779
Other$2,519
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $25,195 spent per student, an estimated $11,161 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
38%
44%
State government
37.7%
Local (property tax)
43.9%
Federal programs
18.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $25,195/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Ruder Elementary
↓
Middle
Columbia Falls Jr HS
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 05
Location—
CountyFlathead County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictColumbia Falls Elem →
Phone: (406)892-6540
NCES ID: 300711000196
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Columbia Falls seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Columbia Falls Elem
Elem
Ruder Elementary
563 students · PK–05
● 42 opp
Mid
Columbia Falls Jr HS
526 students · 06–08
● 42 opp
District School Rankings
Location
440 4th Avenue West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.