Best Schools in Great Falls, Montana

Great Falls, Montana has 19 ranked public schools with a city average score of 5.5 out of 10. That average sits in the middle of the performance spectrum — and the spread confirms it. Only 2 schools, or 11% of the total, clear the 7.0 threshold that typically signals strong academic performance. The remaining 17 schools cluster below that mark, varying significantly by campus. Parents researching Great Falls will find a system with a clear top tier and a broad middle band that rewards careful school-level research.

North Middle School is the city's highest-rated school at 7.6 out of 10 — one of only two Great Falls schools to clear 7.0. At the elementary level, Loy School (7.5) sits just behind it and forms the strongest feeder sequence in the city. Giant Springs Elementary (6.9) and Morningside School (6.4) are solid above-average options for younger students. At the secondary level, C M Russell High School is the top-rated high school at 6.7, clearing the city average by more than a full point.

Below the top five, most Great Falls schools perform near the 5.5 city average or below. That average reflects a system with real variance — a handful of strong campuses offset by a larger group of schools in the mid-range. Families with specific priorities, whether academic acceleration or targeted support programs, should investigate individual campuses rather than relying on district-level reputation.

The practical takeaway: school selection makes a meaningful difference in Great Falls. The Loy-to-North Middle path is the city's strongest academic sequence from elementary through middle school, with both schools clearing 7.0. C M Russell High School at 6.7 is the top high school option available. Attendance boundaries are worth mapping early — in a city where only 11% of schools score 7.0 or above, which side of a boundary line you land on carries real academic weight.