The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Whittier School
Whittier School is an elementary school serving prekindergarten through sixth grade within the Great Falls Elem district in central Montana. It is a small school for its grade band, and the student body is almost entirely made up of children from low-income households, with essentially every student qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The composition of the student population is quite diverse: white students form the largest single group, but American Indian or Alaska Native students and students identifying as two or more races each account for substantial shares, and there is a modest Hispanic presence. This reflects the broader demographics of the area, where Great Falls is shaped by the presence of Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard, major employers that bring a mix of families to the city.
State testing data for the 2023-24 school year presents an unusual picture. For math and English language arts, the reported proficiency rate for all students was zero, but no students were recorded as having taken those tests, even though the school enrolls children in the tested grades. That makes the reported figure difficult to interpret; a parent would want to ask the school directly about testing participation. In science, at least a modest number of students were tested, but the proficiency result was suppressed by the state, likely due to small group sizes. Overall, the school’s performance, as measured by the limited data available, is placed well below average when compared to other districts in Cascade County. Given the high concentration of poverty, this is a familiar pattern nationally, but the gap between this school and others in the county is wide.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access was available in the data. Likewise, no program offerings such as gifted, arts, or career pathways were provided. The district appears not to have undergone any major recent changes that are publicly documented.
Great Falls itself is a city bisected by the Missouri River, with a mix of industrial, commercial, and residential areas. It was historically a thriving industrial and supply center and remains a cultural and commercial hub for central Montana, featuring several museums, including the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the C. M. Russell Museum. Housing in the school’s ZIP code is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks, with home values and rents that are modest; the typical household in the area earns enough to cover rent comfortably, though buying a home would require a substantial monthly payment relative to local incomes.
In sum, Whittier School is a small, high-poverty elementary school with a diverse student body. Its academic results, as far as they can be discerned from publicly reported testing, are very low. A parent considering this school should seek direct information from the school about instruction, after-school options, and how the school supports students given the high level of economic need. The broader community offers a stable, mid-sized city setting with military and service-sector employment and a moderate cost of living.
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