- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia Falls, MT
Glacier Gateway Elem
Federal NCES profile for Glacier Gateway Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 300711000196
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 6
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Glacier Gateway Elem earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Montana median.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Columbia Falls · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 471
- students enrolled
Glacier Gateway Elem has class sizes near the Montana median. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Glacier Gateway Elem ranks #2 of 3 schools in Columbia Falls, MT.
School address
District: Columbia Falls Elem · Montana
NCES ID 300711000196 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Glacier Gateway Elem held near 496 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 34.5 → 33.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+23 students YoY 300711000196 · Columbia Falls, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
471 enr · 13.9:1 · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia Falls Jr Hs (547 students)
Glacier Gateway Elem held near 496 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 34.5 → 33.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Glacier Gateway Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls Jr Hs
547 students
- Ruder Elementa
Ruder Elementary
487 students
- This school
Glacier Gateway Elem
471 students
What this shows Glacier Gateway Elem reports 471 students on the CCD universe file.
How Glacier Gateway Elem compares
Glacier Gateway Elem held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▲ 18% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 471 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
471
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 66% in Montana - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
37.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,977
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,859
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 471 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 86.0%
Two or More 7.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 86.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.2, Glacier Gateway Elem is about as mixed as the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Columbia Falls Elem reports $11,977 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Glacier Gateway Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Falls Jr Hs | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ruder Elementary | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Glacier Gateway Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar other schools in Columbia Falls
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~471 students)
Frequently asked questions about Glacier Gateway Elem
How many students attend Glacier Gateway Elem?
Glacier Gateway Elem has 471 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia Falls, MT. CCD year-over-year: 473 (2022-23) → 496 (2023-24), nearly flat (+23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Glacier Gateway Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Glacier Gateway Elem is 13.9:1, which is 18% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Glacier Gateway Elem?
The largest demographic group at Glacier Gateway Elem is White at 86.0% of enrollment, in Columbia Falls, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Glacier Gateway Elem?
Glacier Gateway Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Glacier Gateway Elem rank among schools in Columbia Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Glacier Gateway Elem ranks #2 of 3 schools in Columbia Falls, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbia Falls on the city page.
What other schools are in Columbia Falls Elem?
Besides Glacier Gateway Elem, Columbia Falls Elem also operates Columbia Falls Jr Hs (547 students) and Ruder Elementary (487 students). See the Columbia Falls Elem district page for the complete list.