Needs Improvement
#597 of 603 schools in MT
West Elementary
Elementary School · Great Falls Elem
PO Box 2429, Great Falls, MT 59403
Enrollment
463
Student-Teacher
14.9:1
Score
2.7
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
463
Student-Teacher
14.9:1
Score
2.7
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Montana schools
#597 of 603
In Great Falls
#18 of 19
public schools
In district
#16 of 17
Great Falls Elem
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West Elementary
Elementary School in Great Falls · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Valley View School
0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
C M Russell High School
1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About West Elementary
West Elementary is a public elementary school in Great Falls, MT, part of Great Falls Elem. West Elementary serves approximately 463 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. West Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.7 out of 10 and ranks #597 of 603 schools in MT.
Structured state assessment records for West Elementary show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 2.7 · Needs Improvement
- District avg 5.5
- MT avg 6.5
What Parents Should Know
55% of students at West Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
West Elementary — Students at West Elementary score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
86.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MT EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 28 test records from MT state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 1.6/10.
How West Elementary Compares
See how West Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
PO Box 2429, Great Falls, MT 59403
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering West Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 2.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Meadow Lark School (rated 7.8/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Giant Springs Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Great Falls, see our Great Falls schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Valley View School Great Falls | 0.7 mi | 5.0 |
| C M Russell High School Great Falls | 1.0 mi | 5.1 |
| Riverview School Great Falls | 1.3 mi | 6.6 |
| Meadow Lark School Great Falls | 1.8 mi | 7.8 |
| Whittier School Great Falls | 1.8 mi | 2.5 |
| Sacajawea School Great Falls | 2.3 mi | 6.2 |
| North Middle School Great Falls | 2.3 mi | 7.5 |
| Longfellow School Great Falls | 2.2 mi | 4.0 |
| OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Great Falls | 2.4 mi | 7.9 |
| Great Falls High School Great Falls | 2.8 mi | 3.9 |
| Sunnyside School Great Falls | 3.1 mi | 5.6 |
| FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Great Falls | 3.0 mi | 7.1 |
| Lincoln School Great Falls | 3.4 mi | 5.0 |
| GREAT FALLS CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Great Falls | 3.9 mi | 6.6 |
| Giant Springs Elementary Great Falls | 3.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Mountain View School Great Falls | 4.4 mi | 3.9 |
| Lewis & Clark School Great Falls | 4.3 mi | 4.5 |
| MT Sch For Deaf & Blnd HS Great Falls | 4.4 mi | — |
| MT Sch For Deaf & Blnd El Great Falls | 4.4 mi | — |
| East Middle School Great Falls | 4.5 mi | 6.2 |
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Browning Elementary Browning, MT | 3.3 |
| Elder Grove School Billings, MT | 3.7 |
| Ponderosa School Billings, MT | 3.8 |
| Mountain View School Great Falls, MT | 3.9 |
| Longfellow School Great Falls, MT | 4.0 |
| Orchard School Billings, MT | 4.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about West Elementary
What grades does West Elementary serve?
West Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend West Elementary?
West Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 463 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elementary is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does West Elementary rank in MT?
West Elementary ranks #597 of 603 schools in MT.
What is West Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
West Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.7 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 West Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, West Elementary has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is West Elementary a charter school?
No, West Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is West Elementary a Title I school?
No, West Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Elementary?
86.4% of students at West Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 463
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 31
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 86.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Cascade County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 55.1%
- Phone
- (406) 268-7180
Resources & Links
District
Great Falls Elem- District Enrollment
- 6,899
- Schools in District
- 17
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,146
- District Rank
- #16 of 17
Other Schools in This District
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