Ruder Elementary

1500 12th Avenue West
Columbia Falls, MT 59912

563 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Ruder Elementary, located at 1500 12th Avenue West in Columbia Falls, Montana, serves as a foundational institution within the Columbia Falls School District 6. As a primary school serving the local community, it focuses on providing a supportive and structured learning environment for students in the early stages of their academic careers. The school is deeply integrated into the small-town fabric of Columbia Falls, acting as a hub for local families and emphasizing core academic skills alongside the social-emotional development necessary for young children.

The school is recognized for its commitment to the success of its students, often leveraging its location near the gateway to Glacier National Park to foster an appreciation for the outdoors and community connection. By offering a curriculum that aligns with state standards while maintaining a focus on individual student growth, Ruder Elementary strives to prepare its children for a successful transition to the middle school level. With its dedicated staff and community-centered approach, the school remains a key pillar in the educational landscape of Flathead County.

563

Total Students

35.0

Full-Time Teachers

16.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

84.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Ruder Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	497
Hispanic	27
Black	1
Two or More	33
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	1

White
497 (88.3 %)
Two or More
33 (5.9 %)
Hispanic
27 (4.8 %)
American Indian
4 (0.7 %)
Black
1 (0.2 %)
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)892-6570
Website:	http://ruderelementary.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	563
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	35.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	446
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	29

* 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 83

Grade 1 106

Grade 2 80

Grade 3 95

Grade 4 99

Grade 5 100