Great Falls Elem, MT - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Great Falls Elem

Great Falls Elementary District serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade across a large network of schools in and around the city of Great Falls, Montana. Because the district does not include high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and state testing results cover only the grades that are assessed. The district’s academic performance on those state assessments places proficiency rates below the midpoint among Cascade County’s districts. In math, about a third of students scored at a proficient level, while in English language arts the share was roughly two-fifths. Science results from the prior year were at a similar level. These figures reflect the district’s position relative to its county peers, and the assessment landscape has shifted with the state’s recent adoption of a new test and updated cut scores, which makes direct year-over-year comparisons unreliable.

The district serves a substantial student body, with enrollment spread relatively evenly across kindergarten through eighth grade and a smaller pre-kindergarten program. The student population is predominantly white, with a sizable share of students who identify as two or more races and smaller but notable groups of American Indian or Alaska Native and Hispanic students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, students with disabilities, and English learners were not available, so those economic and support dimensions are not part of this picture.

A significant area of concern is chronic absenteeism. The district’s rate is in the bottom quartile among Cascade County’s districts, meaning a comparatively high share of students are missing substantial amounts of school. This is a strong signal for a parent or caregiver to investigate further, as it can affect both individual academic progress and the overall school environment. The district includes many neighborhood elementary schools and two middle schools, East and North, as well as a future school that was not yet open at the time of this data collection.

The housing market in the areas served by the district reflects a mix of settings. Home values vary across the zip codes, with the most expensive area in Power and the most affordable in Black Eagle, and the overall weighted average for the district lands below the state benchmark. Rents have risen notably over the past year, particularly in the zip code that covers much of the city. The typical rent-to-income ratio suggests a modest share of income going to rent, though that figure is a broad average and individual experiences will differ.

The district brief found little in the way of recent major changes or strategic priorities that are publicly reported, so this account cannot speak to any new programs, boundary adjustments, or leadership initiatives. A parent would need to contact the district directly or attend school board meetings to learn about current directions.

This is a mid-sized elementary and middle school district in a county where academic outcomes vary across its districts. For a family in Great Falls, the choice among schools within the district may be as important as the choice of the district itself, given the range of neighborhood elementary schools and the two middle schools. The academic results, combined with the high chronic absenteeism rate, point to a system where a closer look at individual school buildings and classroom-level support would be wise before enrolling.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

6,899

Grades

PK–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 8%

Black 1%

White 70%

Asian 1%

Two+ 13%

Am. Indian / AK Native 7%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

18 schools are officially reported under this district.

Giant Springs Elementary

CORE School at Morningside Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

35%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

40%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

37%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$378,561

Year-over-year change+4.2%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$242K to $482K

vs. state typical0.81x

vs. national typical1.03x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
59404	Great Falls	$390K	+4.2%	65.3%
59405	Great Falls	$327K	+4.2%	13.6%
59401	Great Falls	$288K	+5.1%	0.9%
59468	Power	$482K	+5.9%	0.8%
59414	Black Eagle	$242K	+2.8%	0.5%
59485	Cascade	$449K	+6.7%	0.0%
59472	Sand Coulee	$290K	+6.7%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,701/mo

Year-over-year change+12.1%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,088 to $1,774/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
59404	Great Falls	$1,774	+13.3%	65.3%
59405	Great Falls	$1,394	+6.5%	13.6%
59401	Great Falls	$1,088	+6.7%	0.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,910/mo

Home price / national median income4.5x

Annual rent / national median income24.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$209/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$467,919 (+1.3% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.