The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Math. The lowest is 47% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ennis School
Ennis School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and is the elementary wing of the Ennis K-12 Schools district in southwestern Montana. The school sits in the small town of Ennis, a place where a ranching heritage meets a thriving fly-fishing tourism economy. The town’s compact size means the school is integrated into the community rather than isolated on a distant campus. A major capital project completed in 2022 consolidated the district’s grades onto a renovated campus, and Ennis School occupies that new or expanded facility.
The student body is small for an elementary school serving this grade span. The composition is overwhelmingly white, reflecting the surrounding community, with very small numbers of students who are American Indian, Black, Hispanic, or of two or more races. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that places the school near a moderate level of economic need for the area.
State testing results from the 2023-24 school year show a picture that a parent will want to examine closely given how they break across subjects. In math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was well above the midpoint among the handful of districts in Madison County. In science, the share of students reaching that benchmark was lower, and a parent may want to ask the school how the science curriculum and instruction align with the state assessment.
The school serves only through sixth grade, so there is no high school graduation rate to report, and the district's high school would be the relevant institution for that metric. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were not available in the record, so a parent interested in those areas would need to seek them directly from the school or district.
Ennis itself is a town that blends old and new Western economies. Large cattle and sheep ranches still operate in the Madison River valley, while fly shops, resorts, and guided fishing operations draw anglers from across the country. Willie's Distillery produces bourbon and moonshine. The Madison River runs along the town's eastern edge. Population has grown in recent decades, driven by tourism and the broader southwestern Montana growth pattern. Housing values in the area are elevated relative to national benchmarks, reflecting the region's desirability, and a parent moving into the area should anticipate a competitive housing market.
The consolidated K-12 campus means Ennis School shares its grounds with the middle and high school. For a family with children across multiple grade levels, this central location could simplify logistics. The school's academic proficiency in math and English language arts was strong in the most recent testing cycle, while science scores were softer. A parent considering Ennis School would do well to speak with the school about how they address science instruction, and about the learning environment and support structures in place for students who need additional help.
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