Summary:
The Kalispell Elementary school district in Montana serves students from six elementary schools and one middle school. Despite the high poverty levels, with all schools having 100% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, the district has some standout performers, particularly Russell School and Cornelius Hedges School, which rank in the top 25% of Montana elementary schools.
Kalispell Middle School has also seen its statewide ranking improve over the past few years, going from 38th out of 187 Montana middle schools in 2022-2023 to 33rd out of 123 in 2023-2024. This is a positive sign, indicating that the school is making progress in addressing the needs of its students. However, not all schools in the district are performing as well, with Elrod School struggling, with proficiency rates well below the district and state averages.
The variation in spending per student, from $7,641 at Lillian Peterson School to $11,373 at Russell School, is noteworthy and warrants further examination to understand how these funds are being allocated and whether there is a correlation between spending and student outcomes. Overall, the Kalispell Elementary school district faces significant challenges due to the high poverty levels of its student population, but there are also some bright spots that can be built upon to improve the performance of all schools in the district.
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