Best Public Schools in Cardwell, MT

Summary:

The city of Cardwell, Montana is home to a single standout elementary school, Cardwell School, which serves grades PK-8 and has a total enrollment of 35 students. Despite its small size, Cardwell School is a shining example of excellence in public education, consistently ranking among the top schools in the state of Montana.

Cardwell School is part of the Cardwell Elementary District, which is ranked 33 out of 387 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, with 65% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, 55% in Mathematics, and an impressive 100% in Science - all significantly outpacing the state averages. This strong academic achievement is particularly noteworthy given that the school serves a population with a relatively high free/reduced lunch rate of 57.14%.

The small enrollment and low student-teacher ratio of 7:1 at Cardwell School suggest that the school is able to provide a highly personalized and supportive learning environment for its students. The school's consistent high rankings within the state, including a top 10% placement in 2023-2024, further validate its status as a standout institution. Cardwell School's success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its teachers, staff, and students, and it serves as a model for how to deliver excellent educational outcomes in a small, rural setting.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MAST English Language Arts (2025)	MAST Mathematics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAST English Language Arts All Grades	MAST Mathematics All Grades	Total
Cardwell School	Public	PK, KG-8	80 Highway 359	Cardwell	59721	Jefferson County	Cardwell Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 287-3321	35	5	7.0	57.1%	28 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (8.6%)	83.7	37^th of 401 public elementary schools	90.8%		81.9	33^rd of 212 public elementary schools	84.4%	4	65.0	55.0	$17,366

Cities Near Cardwell

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Whitehall	5.85 mi	3
Harrison	14.61 mi	3	104^th
Willow Creek	16.19 mi	3	67^th
Three Forks	20.76 mi	3	58^th
Butte	25.83 mi	8

See the top MT Montana cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.