DeSmet School

Q: Is DeSmet School a good school?

DeSmet School ranks 110 th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

DeSmet School is an elementary school located in Missoula, Montana, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 88 students. The school is part of the Missoula Elementary District, which is ranked 100 out of 300 districts in Montana and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

DeSmet School stands out for its consistently high academic performance, particularly in mathematics and reading. In the 2022-2023 school year, 68.42% of DeSmet students were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 56.16% for the district and 36.59% for the state. In reading, 55.26% of DeSmet students were proficient or better, compared to 56.16% for the district and 46.03% for the state. Additionally, DeSmet School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 8.1 to 8.4 over the past three years, which is lower than the nearby schools, such as Rattlesnake Elementary School and Paxson School, which have ratios ranging from 11.6 to 17.4.

While DeSmet School has a higher percentage of White students (81.82%) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 75-90% White students, it still maintains a diverse student population with representation from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. The school's consistent performance over the years, with its statewide ranking fluctuating between 54 and 217 out of 356 Montana elementary schools, suggests it is providing a stable and reliable education for its students. However, the school's performance in science proficiency, with only 28.57% of students proficient or better in 2022-2023, could be an area for improvement.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

6355 Padre Lane
Missoula, MT 59808

(406) 549-4994

District: DeSmet Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
110^th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,376

Students who attend DeSmet School usually attend:

Middle:	DeSmet 6-8
High:	Big Sky High School

Student/teacher ratio: 9.6

Number of students: 92

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.9%

Asian:

4.3%

Two or more races:

4.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details DeSmet School ranks better than 66.9% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 67.69. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (85.9%), Asian (4.3%), two or more races (4.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at DeSmet School is 9.6. (See more...)

Compare DeSmet School employs 9.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at DeSmet School is $20,376.

Schooldigger Rankings:

DeSmet School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

DeSmet Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks DeSmet Elementary 100^th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for DeSmet School.

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Rank History for DeSmet School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MT State Percentile
2004	33.63	159^th	217	26.7%
2005	70.82	60^th	218	72.5%
2006	36.08	182^nd	234	22.2%
2007	19.63	214^th	230	7.0%
2008	22.87	175^th	194	9.8%
2009	26.54	166^th	190	12.6%
2010	31.72	196^th	241	18.7%
2011	35.33	191^st	247	22.7%
2012	29.49	199^th	244	18.4%
2013	51.57	150^th	246	39.0%
2015	56.55	135^th	287	53.0%
2021	48.28	217^th	356	39.0%
2022	86.78	54^th	329	83.6%
2023	67.69	110^th	332	66.9%

See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Montana Office of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Great small school. For some reason, it does not have a good reputation with the community. For parent and teachers involved with the school it is second to none. The teachers have the ability to know each child and work one on one with them as needed. Close Quote

Enrollment information for DeSmet School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1990	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	97	97
1991	77	0	0	2	4	n/a	n/a	0	83
1992	79	0	0	0	5	n/a	n/a	0	84
1993	114	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	114
1994	104	1	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	0	112
1995	98	0	0	2	8	n/a	n/a	0	108
1996	98	0	0	2	8	n/a	n/a	0	108
1997	82	1	0	1	7	n/a	n/a	0	91
1998	94	2	0	3	6	n/a	n/a	0	105
1999	101	2	1	2	6	n/a	n/a	0	112
2000	85	6	1	0	10	n/a	n/a	0	102
2001	91	2	1	2	8	n/a	n/a	0	104
2002	75	5	4	0	9	n/a	n/a	0	93
2003	75	5	4	0	9	n/a	n/a	0	93
2004	78	3	1	0	13	n/a	n/a	0	95
2005	74	3	4	7	9	n/a	n/a	0	97
2006	99	1	0	5	12	n/a	n/a	0	117
2007	74	1	1	4	31	n/a	n/a	0	111
2008	75	0	3	1	15	n/a	n/a	0	94
2009	85	2	2	3	11	n/a	n/a	0	103
2010	80	0	3	4	8	n/a	n/a	0	95
2011	86	0	2	2	19	0	1	0	110
2012	81	0	2	2	15	0	0	0	100
2013	59	0	1	4	13	0	10	0	87
2014	72	0	1	11	5	0	5	0	94
2015	65	0	1	5	3	0	13	0	87
2016	68	0	0	2	5	0	10	0	85
2017	67	1	0	5	2	0	13	0	88
2018	57	0	1	7	5	0	13	0	83
2019	64	0	1	8	2	0	7	0	82
2020	63	0	1	8	1	0	2	0	75
2021	63	1	2	3	1	0	1	0	71
2022	68	0	3	2	2	1	6	0	82
2023	72	0	4	4	2	0	6	0	88
2024	79	0	4	2	2	1	4	0	92

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at DeSmet School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	97	9.8	9.8	n/a
1991	83	4.0	20.7	0
1992	84	4.5	18.6	53.6
1993	114	5.8	19.7	50
1994	112	7.5	14.9	55.4
1995	108	7.5	14.4	46.3
1996	108	7.5	14.4	46.3
1997	91	8.4	10.8	44
1998	105	8.3	12.7	49.5
1999	112	8.2	13.7	53.6
2000	102	8.1	12.6	72.5
2001	104	8.5	12.2	69.2
2002	93	8.9	10.4	73.1
2003	93	8.9	10.4	73.1
2004	95	8.4	11.3	73.7
2005	97	8.5	11.4	72.2
2006	117	9.3	12.6	66.7
2007	111	10.1	11.0	65.8
2008	94	11.2	8.4	71.3
2009	103	11.1	9.3	78.6
2010	95	10.9	8.6	76.8
2011	110	9.7	11.2	79.1
2012	100	9.6	10.3	58
2013	87	8.7	9.9	69
2014	94	8.7	10.7	67
2015	87	8.0	10.8	100
2016	85	8.0	10.6	100
2017	88	8.5	10.2	100
2018	83	8.4	9.8	100
2019	82	8.4	9.6	57.3
2020	75	8.5	8.7	82.7
2021	71	8.7	8.1	n/a
2022	82	9.7	8.4	n/a
2023	88	10.7	8.2	n/a
2024	92	9.5	9.6	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio DeSmet School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	97	9.8	9.8	n/a
1991	83	4.0	20.7	0
1992	84	4.5	18.6	53.6
1993	114	5.8	19.7	50
1994	112	7.5	14.9	55.4
1995	108	7.5	14.4	46.3
1996	108	7.5	14.4	46.3
1997	91	8.4	10.8	44
1998	105	8.3	12.7	49.5
1999	112	8.2	13.7	53.6
2000	102	8.1	12.6	72.5
2001	104	8.5	12.2	69.2
2002	93	8.9	10.4	73.1
2003	93	8.9	10.4	73.1
2004	95	8.4	11.3	73.7
2005	97	8.5	11.4	72.2
2006	117	9.3	12.6	66.7
2007	111	10.1	11.0	65.8
2008	94	11.2	8.4	71.3
2009	103	11.1	9.3	78.6
2010	95	10.9	8.6	76.8
2011	110	9.7	11.2	79.1
2012	100	9.6	10.3	58
2013	87	8.7	9.9	69
2014	94	8.7	10.7	67
2015	87	8.0	10.8	100
2016	85	8.0	10.6	100
2017	88	8.5	10.2	100
2018	83	8.4	9.8	100
2019	82	8.4	9.6	57.3
2020	75	8.5	8.7	82.7
2021	71	8.7	8.1	n/a
2022	82	9.7	8.4	n/a
2023	88	10.7	8.2	n/a
2024	92	9.5	9.6	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for DeSmet School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2021	$20,763
2022	$17,766
2023	$20,376

Data source: Montana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on DeSmet School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	82	88	7.3%
African American	0	0
American Indian	2	2
Asian	1	4	300%
Hispanic	8	4	50%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	64	72	12.5%
Two or More Races	7	6	14.3%

Schools Near DeSmet School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				Montana State Tests Mathematics (2023)	Montana State Tests Reading (2023)	Montana State Tests Science (2023)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Montana State Tests Mathematics All Grades	Montana State Tests Reading All Grades	Montana State Tests Science All Grades	Total
DeSmet School	Public	PK, KG-5	6355 Padre Lane	Missoula	59808	Missoula County	DeSmet Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 549-4994	92	10	9.6	100.0%	79 (85.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	4 (4.3%)	2 (2.2%)	1 (1.1%)	4 (4.3%)	67.7	110^th of 332 public elementary schools	66.9%		86.8	54^th of 329 public elementary schools	83.6%	56	68.4	55.3	28.6	$20,376
Hellgate Elementary Lower Grades	Public	2-3	2365 Flynn Lane	Missoula	59808	Missoula County	Hellgate Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 721-2160	343	21	16.0	35.6%	272 (79.3%)	3 (0.9%)	30 (8.7%)	3 (0.9%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.5%)	80.9	61^st of 332 public elementary schools	81.6%		80.3	77^th of 329 public elementary schools	76.6%	16	50.6	59.3		$11,096
Hellgate Elementary Primary Grades	Public	PK, KG-1	2365 Flynne Lane	Missoula	59808	Missoula County	Hellgate Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 721-2452	292	22	13.0	35.3%	226 (77.4%)	3 (1.0%)	22 (7.5%)	10 (3.4%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (9.2%)								(n/a)				$13,407
Hawthorne School	Public	PK, KG-5	550 Hiberta St.	Missoula	59804	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4025	377	35	10.7	56.8%	299 (79.3%)	5 (1.3%)	20 (5.3%)	8 (2.1%)	27 (7.2%)	2 (0.5%)	16 (4.2%)	84.5	50^th of 332 public elementary schools	84.9%		84.9	59^th of 329 public elementary schools	82.1%	9	50.5	55.4	72.7	$14,756
Lowell School	Public	PK, KG-5	1215 Phillips St	Missoula	59802	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4040	325	24	13.3	74.5%	255 (78.5%)	13 (4.0%)	12 (3.7%)	5 (1.5%)	26 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.3%)	63.6	126^th of 332 public elementary schools	62.0%		56	167^th of 329 public elementary schools	49.2%	41	43.9	48.5	40.9	$16,905
Target Range School	Public	PK, KG-6	4095 South Avenue West	Missoula	59804	Missoula County	Target Range Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 549-9239	415	27	15.4	36.1%	351 (84.6%)	3 (0.7%)	19 (4.6%)	7 (1.7%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.0%)	72.1	94^th of 332 public elementary schools	71.7%		81.4	72^nd of 329 public elementary schools	78.1%	22	43.8	57.5	44.6	$10,248
Franklin School	Public	PK, KG-5	1910 S. 11th St	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4020	282	26	10.7	71.6%	210 (74.5%)	19 (6.7%)	26 (9.2%)	4 (1.4%)	13 (4.6%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.2%)	56.8	157^th of 332 public elementary schools	52.7%		50.5	193^rd of 329 public elementary schools	41.3%	36	30.3	44.7	50.0	$15,100
Rattlesnake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1220 Pineview Drive	Missoula	59802	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4050	407	26	15.4	29.2%	361 (88.7%)	3 (0.7%)	20 (4.9%)	4 (1.0%)	8 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.7%)	96.9	6^th of 332 public elementary schools	98.2%		97.5	8^th of 329 public elementary schools	97.6%	2	68.3	73.0	73.6	$11,630
Paxson School	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Evans	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4055	418	30	14.0	36.6%	327 (78.2%)	14 (3.3%)	34 (8.1%)	3 (0.7%)	29 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.4%)	95.2	10^th of 332 public elementary schools	97.0%		92.7	20^th of 329 public elementary schools	93.9%	10	61.6	71.9	70.3	$11,703
Russell School	Public	PK, KG-5	3216 Russell Street	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4080	385	30	12.9	59.2%	295 (76.6%)	4 (1.0%)	33 (8.6%)	10 (2.6%)	23 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.2%)	74.3	85^th of 332 public elementary schools	74.4%		76.3	85^th of 329 public elementary schools	74.2%		51.4	59.1	40.4	$14,214

Frequently Asked Questions about DeSmet School

How many students attend DeSmet School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 92 students attended DeSmet School.

What district is DeSmet School in?

DeSmet Elementary

What is the racial makeup of DeSmet School?

Students at DeSmet School are 86% White, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 2% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

Is DeSmet School a good school?

DeSmet School ranks 110^th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of DeSmet School attend?

Students who attend DeSmet School usually go on to attend:

Middle : DeSmet 6-8
High : Big Sky High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.