Best Cascade County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 28 public preschools serving 6,287 students in Cascade County, MT.
The top-ranked public preschools in Cascade County, MT are Meadow Lark School, Belt School and Fort Shaw Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cascade County, MT public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 47% statewide average). Pre schools in Cascade County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Montana public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is more than the Montana public preschool average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Best Public Preschools in Cascade County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Meadow Lark School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2204 Fox Farm Road
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7300
Gr: PK-6 | 527 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Belt School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1 Church Street
Belt, MT 59412
(406) 277-3351
Gr: PK-6 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #33.
Fort Shaw Elementary School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
School Loop Road
Simms, MT 59477
(406) 264-5110
Gr: PK-5 | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #44.
Cascade Colony School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
508 Birdtail Road
Simms, MT 59477
(406) 264-5104
Gr: PK-8 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #55.
Grass Land Colony School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
714 Eden Rd
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5322
Gr: PK-8 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #66.
Hillcrest Colony Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1124 Wilson Road
Vaughn, MT 59487
(406) 463-2236
Gr: PK-8 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #77.
Loy School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
501 57th Street North
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6885
Gr: PK-6 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #88.
Sacajawea School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
630 Sacajawea Drive
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7080
Gr: PK-6 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #99.
Cascade School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
321 Central Ave W
Cascade, MT 59421
(406) 468-2671
Gr: PK-5 | 144 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1010.
Riverview School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
100 Smelter Avenue
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7015
Gr: PK-6 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #1111.
Big Stone School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
251 Goonhill Road
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5167
Gr: PK-8 | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
Rank: #1212.
Lincoln School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
624 27th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6800
Gr: PK-6 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1313.
Centerville School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
693 Stockett Rd
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5167
Gr: PK-5 | 120 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1414.
Ulm School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6 Ulm-vaughn Road
Ulm, MT 59485
(406) 866-3313
Gr: PK-5 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1515.
Chief Joseph School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5305 3rd Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6675
Gr: PK-6 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1616.
Pleasant Valley School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
734 Mccoy Rd
Belt, MT 59412
(406) 277-3351
Gr: PK-8 | 24 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Rank: #1717.
Sunnyside School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1800 19th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7115
Gr: PK-6 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1818.
Lewis & Clark School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3800 1st Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6705
Gr: PK-6 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1919.
Giant Springs Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
520 32nd Street North
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7045
Gr: PK-6 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2020.
Mountain View School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3420 15th Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7305
Gr: PK-6 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #2121.
Hill Top Colony School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
909 Spring Creek Road
Sand Coulee, MT 59472
(406) 736-5169
Gr: PK-8 | 19 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Rank: #2222.
Vaughn Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
480 Central Avenue
Vaughn, MT 59487
(406) 965-2231
Gr: PK-5 | 93 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #2323.
Valley View School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
900 Avenue A Nw
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7145
Gr: PK-6 | 312 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #2424.
West Elementary School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1205 1st Avenue Nw
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7180
Gr: PK-6 | 421 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2525.
Fairhaven Colony
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
9 Miles Sw Of Ulm
Ulm, MT 59485
(406) 866-3313
Gr: PK-8 | 30 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Longfellow School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1100 6th Ave So
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-6845
Gr: PK-6 | 263 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Whittier School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
305 8th Street North
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 268-7230
Gr: PK-6 | 187 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: n/an/a
Mt School For Deaf & Blnd Elementary School
Special Education School
3911 Central Ave
Great Falls, MT 59405
(406) 771-6017
Gr: PK-8 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 15%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Cascade County, MT?
The top-ranked public preschools in Cascade County, MT include Meadow Lark School, Belt School and Fort Shaw Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Cascade County?
27 public preschools are located in Cascade County.
What is the racial composition of students in Cascade County?
Cascade County public preschools minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is more than the Montana public preschools average of 24% (majority American Indian).
Which public preschools in Cascade County are often viewed compared to one another?

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