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Excellent

#86 of 603 schools in MT

Top 14% in state

Bissell School

Elementary School · Olney-bissell Elem · Whitefish, MT

An elementary school in Whitefish, MT where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.

5955 Farm To Market Road, Whitefish, MT 59937

  • Math 35% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 55% proficient (2022)
  • 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.57 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.8Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency34.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency45% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)38% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+6.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile67th
Resources & Environment7.8Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.2:1
District spending per student$12,724
Chronic Absenteeism27%

Students at Bissell School score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.

Math Proficiency35%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency55%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 5 points since 2019, to 45% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
55%
ELA
85%
2010
Math
55%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
55%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
45%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2015
Math
30%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
25%
ELA
50%
2017
Math
30%
ELA
50%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
70%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
70%
2020*
Math
35%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
35%
ELA
55%
2022
Math
35%
ELA
55%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 26 test records from MT state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

52.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Bissell School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 4Car-Dependent
  • Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,213/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Whitefish), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$75,512

Median home value

$654,800

Median rent

$1,335/mo

College educated

50.9%

Homeownership

72.3%

Poverty rate

8.4%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 59937; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

0 from verified nearby records

No verified same-level alternatives

The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.

Olney-bissell Elem

Schools in district
2
Rank in district
#1 of 1
District spending per student
$12,724NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.2%Census SAIPE · 2024

Bissell School is listed in Olney-Bissell Elem; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Bissell School

Bissell School is a public elementary school in Whitefish, MT, part of Olney-bissell Elem, serving approximately 74 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #86 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Bissell School

What grades does Bissell School serve?

Bissell School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Bissell School?

Bissell School has an enrollment of approximately 74 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bissell School?

The student-teacher ratio at Bissell School is 9.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bissell School rank in MT?

Bissell School ranks #86 of 603 schools in MT.

What is Bissell School's MySchoolScout rating?

Bissell School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Bissell School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bissell School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Bissell School a charter school?

No, Bissell School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bissell School a Title I school?

No, Bissell School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bissell School?

52.7% of students at Bissell School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
74
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Flathead County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.0%
Area population (ZIP 59937)
14,653
Area average commute
17.9 min
Area median age
47.3
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 59937; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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