The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Science. The lowest is 0% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lillian Peterson School
Lillian Peterson School is an elementary school in the Kalispell Public Schools system, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits within the city of Kalispell, the largest city in northwest Montana and the commercial center of Flathead County. The broader community economy is driven by healthcare, lumber processing, agriculture, and tourism tied to Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake. Major employers include a large regional medical center, and the city has seen sustained population growth in recent years. Downtown Kalispell offers a walkable core with historic buildings and civic landmarks, while the rest of the city is more auto-oriented, typical of a western Montana hub at the intersection of two U.S. highways.
The school itself has an enrollment that is small for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students identifying as two or more races, and a very small number of Asian and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a noticeable economic diversity. The school is not a charter school, and the available data did not indicate a magnet or Title I status.
State testing data for math and English language arts was reported but showed a zero percent proficiency rate, with zero students tested in those subjects. This is a significant gap that a parent would want to understand directly from the school. Because the school serves early elementary grades, it is possible that not all grades were tested in those subjects, or that other circumstances affected participation. The data does not give a clear reason. Science assessment results were available and showed that a majority of tested students scored at the proficient or above level, which is a meaningful strength in that subject area. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Flathead County. This comparison is a county-level view, not a school-level ranking, and the metric combines subjects where data was sparse, so it should be read with caution.
Because the school ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to consider, and the available data did not include chronic absenteeism rates or staffing information. The district brief, representing Kalispell Elem, did not surface any recent parent-relevant changes or strategic initiatives, so none are described here.
For a family considering this school, the core picture is of a small, economically diverse elementary school in a growing regional city with strong ties to outdoor recreation and healthcare employment. The science results suggest that in at least one subject, a solid majority of students are meeting state standards. The missing math and English language arts results are a notable blank spot. A parent would likely want to ask the school directly about how those subjects are assessed and what the instructional approach looks like in the early grades. The surrounding housing market in the area shows home values that are above the national benchmark, consistent with a region that has seen significant growth and demand, and rental costs that are notable relative to incomes. This is a school that fits a family seeking a neighborhood elementary school in a city that functions as a regional hub, with the understanding that the proficiency picture is incomplete and warrants further inquiry.
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