Below Average
#500 of 603 schools in MT
Whittier School
Elementary School · Great Falls Elem
PO Box 2429, Great Falls, MT 59403
Enrollment
189
Student-Teacher
9.9:1
Score
4.9
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
189
Student-Teacher
9.9:1
Score
4.9
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Great Falls
#17 of 19
public schools
Montana elementary schools
#272 of 319
In district
#16 of 17
Great Falls Elem
School environment
7.3 / 10
Strong
About Whittier School
Whittier School is a regular public elementary school located in Great Falls, Montana. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, Whittier has an enrollment of 189 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 9.9:1 with 19 full-time equivalent teachers. The school’s MySchoolScout rating is 4.1 out of 10, placing it in the 21st percentile among Montana schools.
Academically, Whittier has room for growth, with only 15% of students proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 10% proficient or above in Math. Whittier School is situated in a small city setting within Cascade County, offering a close-knit community atmosphere where teachers can give individual attention to each student. While the school's current test scores may suggest areas for improvement, the dedicated staff works hard to support students' development and learning needs.
Whittier School sits in the heart of Great Falls, providing its young learners with access to local resources and a supportive neighborhood environment.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 189 students, Whittier 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 9.9:1, Whittier 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.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Whittier School — Students at Whittier School score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MT EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 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: 5.6/10.
How Whittier School Compares
See how Whittier School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 12% (2019) to 7.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 22% (2019) to 12% (2022).
Location
PO Box 2429, Great Falls, MT 59403
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Whittier School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Giant Springs Elementary (rated 7.1/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Valley View School (rated 5.5/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Great Falls, see our Great Falls schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Longfellow School Great Falls | 0.8 mi | 5.3 |
| OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Great Falls | 0.8 mi | 7.9 |
| North Middle School Great Falls | 1.4 mi | 8.0 |
| Great Falls High School Great Falls | 1.0 mi | 4.5 |
| Sacajawea School Great Falls | 1.6 mi | 4.9 |
| FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Great Falls | 1.2 mi | 7.1 |
| Riverview School Great Falls | 1.4 mi | 5.0 |
| C M Russell High School Great Falls | 1.4 mi | 6.5 |
| Sunnyside School Great Falls | 1.8 mi | 5.3 |
| Lincoln School Great Falls | 1.7 mi | 5.3 |
| Valley View School Great Falls | 1.7 mi | 5.5 |
| West Elementary Great Falls | 1.8 mi | 4.8 |
| Giant Springs Elementary Great Falls | 1.9 mi | 7.1 |
| GREAT FALLS CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Great Falls | 2.4 mi | 6.6 |
| Meadow Lark School Great Falls | 2.4 mi | 5.4 |
| Lewis & Clark School Great Falls | 2.5 mi | 5.3 |
| Mountain View School Great Falls | 2.7 mi | 5.0 |
| MT Sch For Deaf & Blnd HS Great Falls | 2.5 mi | — |
| MT Sch For Deaf & Blnd El Great Falls | 2.5 mi | — |
| East Middle School Great Falls | 2.7 mi | 6.9 |
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Belt School Belt, MT | 4.9 |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Kalispell, MT | 4.9 |
| Broadus School Broadus, MT | 5.0 |
| Fairfield Elementary School Fairfield, MT | 5.0 |
| Meadowlark School Conrad, MT | 5.0 |
| Ophir Elementary School Big Sky, MT | 5.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Whittier School
What grades does Whittier School serve?
Whittier School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Whittier School?
Whittier School has an enrollment of approximately 189 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whittier School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whittier School is 9.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Whittier School rank in MT?
Whittier School is ranked #500 out of 603 schools in MT.
What is Whittier School's MySchoolScout rating?
Whittier School has a composite rating of 4.9 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 Whittier School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Whittier School has 10.5% math proficiency and 15.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Whittier School a charter school?
No, Whittier School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Whittier School a Title I school?
No, Whittier School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Whittier School?
99.5% of students at Whittier 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (4,026/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Great Falls). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 189
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 99.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Cascade County
- Phone
- (406) 268-7230
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
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
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.
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