Sun River Valley Elem, MT

Original Research by School Decision on Sun River Valley Elem

Sun River Valley Elementary is a small, rural public school district in Cascade County, Montana, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. With an enrollment that is modest even for a rural district, it operates three schools: Fort Shaw Elementary School, Sun River Middle School, and Cascade Colony School. The district’s footprint spans several small communities and unincorporated areas, including Fort Shaw, Sun River, Cascade, Fairfield, and Vaughn. These are agricultural and residential places scattered across the county, and families here tend to be rooted in the region. Housing values vary by location, with some areas near Great Falls showing slightly higher prices, but overall the district’s homes are priced in a range that, for Montana, sits near the statewide typical level. Rental options are limited and primarily concentrated in one zip code, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment would exceed the typical rent, a pattern common in many rural markets where for-sale housing dominates.

Academically, the district’s students take the Montana state assessments in math, English language arts, and science. Results from recent testing show that roughly half of students met the state’s proficiency benchmark in ELA, a similar share did so in math, and about two in five met it in science. Compared to other districts in Cascade County, Sun River Valley’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint of the county. This means its academic performance is stronger than many of its neighbors, though still a tier below the highest-performing districts in the area. Because the district only goes through eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and families will need to consider what secondary options are available after eighth grade.

Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern for this district. The share of students who miss a substantial number of school days is above the midpoint among Cascade County’s districts, meaning it is higher than typical for the area. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what patterns or challenges may be contributing, particularly given the small enrollment where a handful of students can shift the percentage noticeably.

Per-pupil spending is in the middle range but on the upper half of the county’s districts. That suggests the district invests somewhat more per student than many of its peers, which can be common in small rural districts where fixed costs are spread over fewer students.

The district’s student body is predominantly white, reflecting the demographics of the surrounding communities. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are learning English as a new language was not available, so a reader cannot gauge economic need or special program enrollment from this profile.

Publicly reported information about recent district-level changes—levies, bonds, curriculum shifts, or staffing—was absent from available sources. The district’s public footprint is minimal, which is typical for a very small rural system. Families considering this area would likely want to contact the district office directly for the most current updates on programs, transportation, and any upcoming changes.

Sun River Valley Elementary offers a small-scale, rural educational environment for elementary and middle school students. Its academic performance stands up well relative to other Cascade County districts, but chronic absenteeism is a soft spot. The district does not serve high school grades, so families will need to plan for secondary education elsewhere in the county. Housing in the district’s coverage area is moderately priced for Montana, and the communities are low-key and agricultural in character. For a family that values a close-knit school with county-competitive academics and is prepared to look into absenteeism patterns, this district may be a reasonable fit.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

175

Grades

PK–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 2%

Black 1%

White 87%

Asian 2%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 6%

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

Fort Shaw Elem School

Sun River Middle School

Cascade Colony School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

47%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

50%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

43%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$416,651

Year-over-year change+4.2%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$369K to $487K

vs. state typical0.89x

vs. national typical1.13x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
59477	Fairfield	$369K	+4.1%	25.9%
59483	Sun River	$443K	+3.3%	22.7%
59443	Fort Shaw	$487K	+3.1%	21.3%
59487	Vaughn	$369K	+6.1%	14.6%
59421	Cascade	$400K	+5.0%	11.3%
59404	Great Falls	$390K	+4.2%	1.9%
59485	Cascade	$449K	+6.7%	1.8%
59436	Choteau	$419K	+7.4%	0.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,774/mo

Year-over-year change+13.3%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
59404	Great Falls	$1,774	+13.3%	1.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,102/mo

Home price / national median income5.0x

Annual rent / national median income25.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$329/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.