22 public K-12 schools in Kalispell from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.
22 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2024-25 data.
The highest-ranked of Kalispell's 22 public schools is Flathead High School, scoring 25/100, against a city average of 30.6/100. Computed live across every Kalispell campus reporting to NCES.
How the Kalispell Public-School Landscape Breaks Down
Kalispell, MT enrolls 8,524 students across 22 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 14.9:1, and the composite quality score, derived from student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted-program availability, and CRDC attendance data, averages 30.6/100. Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.
The most-resourced campus in Kalispell on this index is Flathead High School, at 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index with 1,541 enrolled students. What the index does and doesn't measure; click any school below for its full component breakdown.
Kalispell spans 9 districts, each filing its own NCES F-33 return, per-pupil spending can vary between neighbouring campuses. Sort the table below by enrollment, level, or district; click any school for its full profile.
Flathead High School accounts for 18.1% of all Kalispell public-school enrollment
That concentration means Kalispell-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade level: High. A dominant campus often anchors a city's program landscape and absorbs a disproportionate share of district capital and staffing decisions. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Kalispell school enrollment varies 39× across entities
Kalispell school enrollment ranges from 40 students (lowest) to 1,541 students (highest), a spread of 1,501 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city, small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape, a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.
Kalispell operates 9 school districts — among the most fragmented governance structures in the country
Each school district has independent budgeting, hiring, and service delivery authority. The fragmentation reflects historical patterns of inter-municipal boundary lines that pre-date modern city growth, students in different parts of the same city can attend different districts with different per-pupil spending, calendars, and graduation requirements. Per-region variation is largest in fragmented systems because each school district sets its own budget, contracts, and priorities without higher-level coordination above the regulatory floor.
Kalispell student-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 — near the typical range (US average ~15.7) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 15.7:1
student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment, push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within Kalispell is typically wider than the Kalispell-aggregate figure suggests.
Most racially and ethnically mixed schools in Kalispell
Ranked by the Simpson student-body diversity index (0-100) from NCES race and ethnicity data, where higher means a more evenly mixed student body. It measures mix, not quality.
The highest-ranked school in Kalispell is Flathead High School with a quality score of 25/100. There are 22 public schools in Kalispell with 8,524 total students.
How many schools are in Kalispell, MT? ▼
Kalispell has 22 public schools with a total enrollment of 8,524 students. Average student-teacher ratio: 14.9:1.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio,
counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology, which explains how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
