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Rau School

Q: Is Rau School a good school?

Rau School ranks 260 th of 401 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

260^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 401 Montana Elementary Schools

Better than 35% of Montana elementary schools

Summary

Rau School is a small elementary school in Sidney, MT, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 70 students. As part of the Rau Elementary District, which is ranked 272 out of 387 districts in Montana, Rau School stands out for its low student-teacher ratio and higher spending per student compared to nearby schools.

One of Rau School's key strengths is its very low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 9.8 to 10.2 over the past few years, significantly lower than the nearby Savage School (12.6 to 13.7) and other local schools. However, the school's academic performance has been mixed, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science sometimes falling below the state averages. Interestingly, the school's spending per student for the 2018-2019 school year was $13,191, higher than the nearby Savage School ($9,538) and West Side Elementary ($10,283).

Another notable trend at Rau School is the significant increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 20.83% in 2023-2024 to 41.43% in 2024-2025. This is higher than the nearby Savage School (25%) but lower than Fairview School (48.51%) and Central Elementary (40.07%). The school's statewide ranking has also fluctuated significantly over the years, suggesting inconsistent performance that may warrant further investigation.

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,448

Per pupil spending ?

41.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12138 County Rd 350
Sidney, MT 59270

(406) 482-1088

District: Rau Elementary

Students who attend Rau School usually attend:

High:

Sidney High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.0%

Hispanic:

7.1%

Two or more races:

2.9%

See top rated Montana elementary schools

Compare Rau School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 43rd percentile in 2007 → 35th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Montana average (33% vs 40% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2007

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school33%

District avg33%

Montana avg40%

260^th of 401

Montana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 35%▼ down 40 pts since 2021

From top 25% (2021) to bottom 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Montana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

272^nd of 387Rau Elementary among Montana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Montana percentile	Rating
2025	38.3	260 of 401	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	67.0	82 of 212	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.4	211 of 332	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.3	162 of 329	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	77.0	88 of 356	75.3%	★★★★☆
2012	47.5	163 of 244	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	24.5	209 of 247	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	50.8	143 of 241	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	13.6	185 of 194	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	51.0	132 of 230	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.5	131 of 234	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	24.3	186 of 218	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Montana (2024-2025) ?

Science38%~ state avg

English Language Arts36%-7 vs state

Mathematics29%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rau School

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
Rau School	Public	PK, KG-6	12138 County Rd 350	Sidney	59270	Richland County	Rau Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 482-1088	70	7	10.0	41.4%	63 (90.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.9%)	38.3	260^th of 401 public elementary schools	35.2%		67	82^nd of 212 public elementary schools	61.3%	178	35.7	28.6	$15,448
Central Elementary	Public	3-5	200 3rd Avenue SE	Sidney	59270	Richland County	Sidney Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 433-4080	272	20	13.7	40.1%	220 (80.9%)	3 (1.1%)	29 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	14 (5.1%)	53.1	192^nd of 401 public elementary schools	52.1%					(n/a)	46.0	40.2	$12,298
West Side Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	1100 5th Street SW	Sidney	59270	Richland County	Sidney Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 433-5501	288	23	12.6	39.6%	249 (86.5%)	3 (1.0%)	18 (6.3%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.8%)								(n/a)			$14,013
Brorson School	Public	PK, KG-6	7 miles NW of Sidney Hwy 200	Sidney	59270	Richland County	Brorson Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 798-3361	5	1	4.1		4 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58	167^th of 401 public elementary schools	58.4%					(n/a)	20.0	80.0	$63,986
Fairview School	Public	PK, KG-5	713 S Western Ave	Fairview	59221	Richland County	Fairview Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 742-5265	134	14	9.8	48.5%	109 (81.3%)	5 (3.7%)	9 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.5%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	50.1	208^th of 401 public elementary schools	48.1%					(n/a)	42.4	37.3	$21,173
Savage School	Public	PK, KG-5	368 Mesa South	Savage	59262	Richland County	Savage Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 776-2317	64	6	10.2	25.0%	55 (85.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.8%)	69.8	99^th of 401 public elementary schools	75.3%		55.9	106^th of 212 public elementary schools	50.0%	7	48.5	57.6	$18,700

Frequently Asked Questions about Rau School

How many students attend Rau School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 70 students attended Rau School.

Is Rau School a good school?

Rau School ranks 260^th of 401 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Rau School attend?

Students who attend Rau School usually go on to attend:

High : Sidney High School

What district is Rau School in?

Rau Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Rau School?

Students at Rau School are 90% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

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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.