B+
Above Average
82/100

Ruder Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 1500 12th Avenue West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Overall
B+
82/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
B
0.3 grade levels above the U.S. average · 62nd percentile in Montana
Resources
A+
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against Montana schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

82
Repit Score
out of 100
546
Students
enrolled
14.8:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$25K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)75%62/1000.3 grade levels above the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)25%96/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 98% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with Montana schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +35 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in Montana. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency60% (+12 pts vs. state avg 48%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency56% (+18 pts vs. state avg 38%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the Montana state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White62%57%reading +7 pts, math +6 pts67th percentile (list)
Low-income47%52%reading +11 pts, math +20 pts84th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 1500 12th Avenue West
City Columbia Falls
ZIP Code 59912
District 3007110
NCES School ID 300711000198
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 59912

Understanding the community around Ruder Elementary helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $69,403
Per Capita Income $34,663
Poverty Rate 5.1%
Households Earning $100K+ 31.2%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.1%
High School or Higher 94.8%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $361,600
Median Rent $946
Owner-Occupied 79.1%
Renter-Occupied 20.9%
View full data for ZIP 59912 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 59912 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 59912 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Ruder Elementary.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 47.1%
Female 52.9%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 84.4%
Two or More Races 9.2%
Hispanic/Latino 5.7%
American Indian 0.6%
Pacific Islander 0.2%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 546
Teachers (FTE) 37.0
Student:Teacher Ratio 14.8:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Ruder Elementary?
Ruder Elementary has a Repit School Score of 82 out of 100, earning a grade of B+. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Ruder Elementary?
Ruder Elementary has 546 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1.
What grades does Ruder Elementary serve?
Ruder Elementary serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does Ruder Elementary receive per student?
Ruder Elementary receives $25,195 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Ruder Elementary in 59912 ▼
Avg Home Value
$615,673
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,642
1-Year Change
+3.3%
% Renters
20.9%

Other Schools in 59912

View all schools and real estate data for 59912 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026