Excellent
#59 of 603 schools in MT
Top 10% in state
Cardwell School
Elementary School · Cardwell Elem · Cardwell, MT
An elementary school in Cardwell, MT where students score 22 points above what's typical for similar communities.
80 Highway 359, Cardwell, MT 59721
- Math 50% proficient (2022)
- Reading 70% proficient (2022)
- 7.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cardwell School score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2009–2022), then recovered 10 points since 2019, reaching 60% in 2022.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 63% (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 24 test records from MT state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
56.8%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Cardwell 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 30Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,304/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$86,932
Median home value
$615,700
Median rent
$896/mo
College educated
31%
Homeownership
74.4%
Poverty rate
3.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 59721; 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.
Cardwell Elem
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $15,225NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cardwell School is listed in Cardwell Elem; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cardwell School
Cardwell School is a public elementary school in Cardwell, MT, part of Cardwell Elem, serving approximately 37 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 7.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #59 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cardwell School
What grades does Cardwell School serve?
Cardwell School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Cardwell School?
Cardwell School has an enrollment of approximately 37 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardwell School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardwell School is 7.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cardwell School rank in MT?
Cardwell School ranks #59 of 603 schools in MT.
What is Cardwell School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cardwell School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 Cardwell School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cardwell School has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Cardwell School a charter school?
No, Cardwell School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cardwell School a Title I school?
No, Cardwell School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cardwell School?
56.8% of students at Cardwell 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 – 8th
- Enrollment
- 37
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 5
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Jefferson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.4%
- Phone
- (406) 287-3321
- Area population (ZIP 59721)
- 519
- Area average commute
- 31.2 min
- Area median age
- 48.4
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 59721; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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