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Excellent

#74 of 603 schools in MT

Top 12% in state

Dayton School

Elementary School · Upper West Shore Elem

PO Box 195, Dayton, MT 59914

Enrollment

49

Student-Teacher

8.2:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Montana elementary schools

#53 of 319

Academic growth

8.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Dayton School

Dayton School serves 49 students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in the small rural community of Dayton, Montana. This elementary school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.2:1 with six full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and close relationships between educators and students. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.4 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 89th out of 605 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 86th percentile among Montana schools.

Students show balanced achievement with 50% scoring proficient or above in both English Language Arts and mathematics across all grade levels. Located in Lake County's ZIP code 59914, Dayton School serves a small community of just 342 residents. The area reflects Montana's rural character, with a median household income of $57,292 and median home values of $865,000.

About one-third of local adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate stands at 18.4%. As a regular public school in this tight-knit rural setting, Dayton School offers the intimate, community-focused educational experience typical of small Montana towns, where students receive individualized attention in a close-knit learning environment surrounded by the natural beauty of rural Lake County.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 49 students, Dayton School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.2:1, Dayton School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, Dayton School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.65 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics7.5Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency49.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency49.5%
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)52%
vs. Expected-2.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile63th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.2Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,383

Dayton School — Students at Dayton School score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MT EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 36.2%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 42.8%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from MT state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
34.5%
ELA
54.5%
2021*
Math
24.5%
ELA
24.5%
2022
Math
49.5%
ELA
49.5%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.6/10.

How Dayton School Compares

See how Dayton School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
88th percentile in MT
Academic
7.5/10
7.5/10
Growth
8.6/10
Above average
Environment
7.2/10
Above average

Location

PO Box 195, Dayton, MT 59914

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Dayton School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Linderman School (rated 8.4/10, 13.3 miles away, in nearby Polson), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Valley View School (rated 7.9/10, 16.2 miles away, in nearby Polson), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Lakeside Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 11.0 miles away, in nearby Somers), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Dayton, see our Dayton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 22.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Lakeside Elementary School Somers 11.0 mi 7.8
Cherry Valley School Polson 13.4 mi 5.9
Linderman School Polson 13.3 mi 8.4
Polson Middle School Polson 13.8 mi 4.2
Polson High School Polson 14.0 mi 5.6
Somers Middle School Somers 15.6 mi 7.6
Valley View School Polson 16.2 mi 7.9
MISSION VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Polson 15.4 mi 7.5
Bigfork Elementary Bigfork 16.6 mi 5.5
Bigfork 7-8 Bigfork 16.6 mi 6.9
Bigfork High School Bigfork 16.6 mi 6.3
Jeannette Rankin Elementary Sc Kalispell 21.1 mi 6.6
STILLWATER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Kalispell 21.3 mi 5.6
Pablo Elementary Ronan 19.8 mi 4.4
Kila 7-8 Kila 19.5 mi 8.6
Kila School Kila 19.5 mi 3.1
Two Eagle River School Pablo 19.9 mi
KALISPELL MONTESSORI CENTER Kalispell 22.6 mi 4.6
Cornelius Hedges School Kalispell 22.5 mi 5.3
Flathead High School Kalispell 22.6 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 59914 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$85,156

Median Home Value

$937,500

Median Rent

$1,175/mo

Population

379

College Educated

41.2%

Homeownership

70.2%

Poverty Rate

13.2%

Median Age

57.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Dayton School has a median household income of $85,156. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $937,500, with a median rent of $1,175/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.2%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Custer School Custer, MT 8.0
Dodson School Dodson, MT 8.0
Geraldine Elementary Geraldine, MT 7.9
Lima School Lima, MT 8.1
Valley View School Polson, MT 7.9
Arrow Creek Elem School Pryor, MT 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Dayton School

What grades does Dayton School serve?

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

How many students attend Dayton School?

Dayton School has an enrollment of approximately 49 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Dayton School?

The student-teacher ratio at Dayton School is 8.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Dayton School rank in MT?

Dayton School is ranked #74 out of 603 schools in MT.

What is Dayton School's MySchoolScout rating?

Dayton School has a composite rating of 8.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Dayton School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Dayton School has 36.2% math proficiency and 42.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Dayton School a charter school?

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

Is Dayton School a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
8 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Elevated (839/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
49
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Lake County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Upper West Shore Elem
District Enrollment
49
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,558
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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