The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Science. The lowest is 0% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on West Valley Middle School
West Valley Middle School serves students in fifth through eighth grade and is part of the West Valley Elementary School District in Kalispell, Montana. The school sits on Farm to Market Road, on the outskirts of a city that functions as the commercial and healthcare hub for northwest Montana, with an economy tied to Logan Health Medical Center, lumber processing, agriculture, and tourism drawn by Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.
The student body is predominantly white, with small numbers of Hispanic students and students identifying with two or more races, and even smaller numbers of American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school serves a moderate middle-grade enrollment, with a fairly even distribution across the four grade levels.
State testing data for math and English language arts from the 2023-24 school year shows that zero students were recorded as tested and zero were recorded as proficient. In the source data the tested count is reported as zero for both subjects, which means that no regular state assessment results are available for those subjects at this school for that year. Science results were reported, with a proficiency rate that falls in a middle range. The overall proficiency picture, averaging across all tested subjects and grades, places the school in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Flathead County.
A parent reading this will want to understand why the math and ELA assessments show no tested students. The school serves grades five through eight, which are tested grades in Montana, so the gap is not explained by an untested grade band. It may reflect a very small group of students who were assessed under an alternative arrangement, or a data reporting issue, or another circumstance that the available records do not clarify. A parent should ask the school or district directly about assessment participation and how academic progress is measured for their child.
Beyond test scores, the data available does not include information on staffing ratios, discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, special education identification, or English learner services. These are meaningful gaps for a family considering the school. Without that context, it is harder to assess the full support environment.
Kalispell itself has been growing. It was among the faster-growing Montana cities in the years leading up to 2020, and estimates suggest that growth has continued. The local housing market reflects a high-cost area: home values and rents are well above the national median, and buying a home here requires a significant income premium relative to the national average. The city has a walkable downtown core with historic landmarks, but the broader built environment is auto-oriented, which is typical for this part of the state. Major employers include the regional medical center, a large lumber company, and retail and service businesses tied to tourism.
The district, West Valley Elementary, had no recent changes clearing the bar for lasting impact that could be found through public reporting. No major referendums, curriculum shifts, or boundary changes were evident in the search.
For a family, this is a middle school in a growing, relatively expensive corner of Montana where the economy is anchored by healthcare and tourism. The academic picture from state tests is largely absent, which is the central fact to pursue. The school is predominantly white and serves a moderate share of low-income students. Without staffing or civil rights data, the day-to-day experience for students with disabilities or language needs is not visible through the available information. A parent would benefit from visiting, talking to the principal about assessment participation, and asking about class sizes and support services.
See more original research from School Decision →