- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia Falls, MT
Ruder Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ruder Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 300711000198
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ruder Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Montana median.
- #3 of 3
- schools in Columbia Falls · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 487
- students enrolled
Ruder Elementary has class sizes near the Montana median. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ruder Elementary ranks #3 of 3 schools in Columbia Falls, MT.
School address
District: Columbia Falls Elem · Montana
NCES ID 300711000198 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-17 students YoY
Ruder Elementary held near 546 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 35.0 → 37.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-17 students YoY 300711000198 · Columbia Falls, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
487 enr · 13.9:1 · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia Falls Jr Hs (547 students)
Ruder Elementary held near 546 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount). Teacher FTE added 35.0 → 37.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Ruder Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls Jr Hs
547 students
- This school
Ruder Elementary
487 students
- Glacier Gatewa
Glacier Gateway Elem
471 students
What this shows Ruder Elementary reports 487 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ruder Elementary compares
Ruder Elementary 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 | 487 | top 7% | - | - |
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.
487
Bigger than 60% 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
39.8%
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 487 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.8%
Two or More 8.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 84.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.0, Ruder Elementary is more mixed than 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 Ruder Elementary 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 |
| Glacier Gateway Elem | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ruder Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 471
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
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 (~487 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ruder Elementary
How many students attend Ruder Elementary?
Ruder Elementary has 487 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia Falls, MT. CCD year-over-year: 563 (2022-23) → 546 (2023-24), nearly flat (-17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ruder Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ruder Elementary 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 Ruder Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ruder Elementary is White at 84.8% of enrollment, in Columbia Falls, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ruder Elementary?
Ruder Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Ruder Elementary rank among schools in Columbia Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Ruder Elementary ranks #3 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 Ruder Elementary, Columbia Falls Elem also operates Columbia Falls Jr Hs (547 students) and Glacier Gateway Elem (471 students). See the Columbia Falls Elem district page for the complete list.