Glacier Gateway Elem

440 4th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912

473 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Glacier Gateway Elementary School is located in Columbia Falls, Montana, serving as a foundational part of the local community’s public education system. As a primary school, it is dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages academic growth, social development, and personal responsibility. The school emphasizes core curriculum subjects while working to integrate the unique character and community spirit of the Columbia Falls area into the daily classroom experience.

Beyond its academic focus, Glacier Gateway is recognized for its commitment to supporting the "whole child," providing resources and programming designed to help students build a strong educational foundation during their formative years. The school benefits from its location in the Flathead Valley, often utilizing the surrounding natural environment to enhance learning opportunities. Through a partnership between dedicated educators, supportive families, and the wider Columbia Falls community, Glacier Gateway strives to prepare its students for success as they transition into the upper grade levels.

473

Total Students

34.5

Full-Time Teachers

13.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

98.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Glacier Gateway Elem
Demographic	Student Count
White	406
Hispanic	27
Two or More	32
American Indian	7
Pacific Islander	1

White
406 (85.8 %)
Two or More
32 (6.8 %)
Hispanic
27 (5.7 %)
American Indian
7 (1.5 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Columbia Falls Elem
Phone:	(406)892-6540
Website:	http://glaciergateway.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	473
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	34.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	431
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	35

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 76

Grade 1 81

Grade 2 71

Grade 3 84

Grade 4 82

Grade 5 79