Paxson School

Summary:

Paxson School is an exceptional elementary school in Missoula, Montana, serving 463 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Missoula Elementary District, which is ranked 54 out of 300 districts in the state.

Paxson School consistently outperforms the Missoula Elementary district and the state of Montana in academic proficiency across all subjects. In the 2022-2023 school year, Paxson School had 61.61% of students proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 49.33% for Missoula Elementary and 36.59% for the state. In Reading, Paxson School had 71.9% proficiency, compared to 58.86% for Missoula Elementary and 46.03% for the state. In Science, Paxson School had 70.31% proficiency, compared to 53.35% for Missoula Elementary and 37.03% for the state. This strong academic performance has earned Paxson School a ranking of 10 out of 332 elementary schools in Montana, placing it in the top 3% statewide.

While Paxson School has a more diverse student population compared to some nearby schools, with 78.19% White, 7.99% Hispanic, 9.07% Native American, and 2.59% African American students, the racial makeup still skews heavily towards White students. This could indicate a need to further diversify the student body and ensure that all students have equal access to educational opportunities. Interestingly, Paxson School achieves its high academic performance with relatively lower per-student spending ($8,643 in 2018-2019) compared to some nearby schools, such as Lowell School ($10,972) and Russell School ($10,565), suggesting efficient resource allocation and effective use of funds.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 101 Evans
       Missoula, MT  59801


(406) 542-4055

District: Missoula Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
10th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,703 Help


Students who attend Paxson School usually attend:

Middle:    Washington Middle School
High:    Hellgate High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.0 Help
Number of students:  418

Racial breakdown:

White:
78.2%
Hispanic:
8.1%
American Indian:
6.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  36.6% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Paxson School ranks better than 97% of elementary schools in Montana. It also ranks 2nd among 9 ranked elementary schools in the Missoula Elementary School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 95.22. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (78.2%), Hispanic (8.1%), American Indian (6.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 36.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Paxson School is 14. 4 elementary schools in the Missoula Elementary School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Paxson School employs 29.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Paxson School is $11,703. 7 elementary schools in the Missoula Elementary School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Missoula Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Missoula Elementary 54th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Paxson School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 43.18 139th 217 35.9%
2005 67.74 71st 218 67.4%
2006 64.37 79th 234 66.2%
2007 78.84 14th 230 93.9%
2008 74.64 31st 194 84.0%
2009 73.88 32nd 190 83.2%
2010 66.07 73rd 241 69.7%
2011 64.25 91st 247 63.2%
2012 64.77 78th 244 68.0%
2013 62.54 89th 246 63.8%
2015 80.17 55th 287 80.8%
2016 80.19 36th 191 81.2%
2017 64.71 36th 109 67.0%
2018 66.47 35th 116 69.8%
2019 75.65 26th 123 78.9%
2021 86.26 55th 356 84.6%
2022 92.71 20th 329 93.9%
2023 95.22 10th 332 97.0%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Paxson School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Paxson School

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Compare
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 304 304
1991 273 3 9 3 20 n/a n/a 0 308
1992 283 4 11 0 23 n/a n/a 0 321
1993 370 5 17 7 25 n/a n/a 0 424
1994 372 4 12 5 18 n/a n/a 0 411
1995 306 1 12 7 26 n/a n/a 0 352
1996 306 1 12 7 26 n/a n/a 0 352
1997 266 1 11 3 17 n/a n/a 0 298
1998 253 1 6 5 31 n/a n/a 0 296
1999 240 2 6 4 24 n/a n/a 0 276
2000 358 3 7 3 24 n/a n/a 0 395
2001 331 6 3 6 23 n/a n/a 0 369
2002 358 5 4 2 29 n/a n/a 0 398
2003 358 5 4 2 29 n/a n/a 0 398
2004 370 12 12 2 27 n/a n/a 0 423
2005 360 10 7 4 29 n/a n/a 0 410
2006 351 5 6 8 24 n/a n/a 0 394
2007 325 6 7 13 20 n/a n/a 0 371
2008 303 4 5 9 24 n/a n/a 0 345
2009 314 5 5 5 22 n/a n/a 0 351
2010 302 3 11 7 20 n/a n/a 0 343
2011 289 7 12 7 23 1 0 0 339
2012 294 13 7 4 25 4 1 0 348
2013 330 9 7 5 34 2 3 0 390
2014 345 8 5 9 32 1 3 0 403
2015 368 12 8 9 33 2 0 0 432
2016 367 8 10 9 28 1 0 0 423
2017 373 8 10 12 22 1 2 0 428
2018 389 13 12 15 22 1 0 0 452
2019 402 16 7 20 36 1 0 0 482
2020 392 12 3 29 37 1 1 0 475
2021 338 8 5 32 31 1 1 0 416
2022 345 9 7 38 28 0 2 0 429
2023 362 12 4 37 42 1 5 0 463
2024 327 14 3 34 29 1 10 0 418

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 Paxson School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 304 15.6 19.4 21.7
1991 308 14.6 21.0 20.5
1992 321 14.5 22.1 19.9
1993 424 19.7 21.5 23.8
1994 411 19.9 20.7 27
1995 352 17.7 19.9 23.3
1996 352 17.7 19.9 23.3
1997 298 15.5 19.2 24.8
1998 296 13.6 21.8 28.7
1999 276 13.6 20.3 35.1
2000 395 23.7 16.7 37.5
2001 369 23.7 15.6 33.6
2002 398 22.5 17.7 34.4
2003 398 22.5 17.7 34.4
2004 423 23.5 18.0 31.2
2005 410 21.9 18.7 30.2
2006 394 21.9 18.0 35
2007 371 21.2 17.5 34.8
2008 345 22.5 15.3 35.4
2009 351 22.5 15.6 35.3
2010 343 20.6 16.6 33.2
2011 339 19.9 16.9 38.9
2012 348 19.1 18.2 45.1
2013 390 21.3 18.2 40.5
2014 403 23.0 17.5 47.9
2015 432 23.0 18.7 33.8
2016 423 25.0 16.9 100
2017 428 27.0 15.8 100
2018 452 25.1 17.9 100
2019 482 25.8 18.6 28
2020 475 27.2 17.4 13.7
2021 416 24.7 16.8 n/a
2022 429 27.3 15.6 n/a
2023 463 27.3 16.9 n/a
2024 418 29.7 14.0 36.6

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 Paxson School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 304 15.6 19.4 21.7
1991 308 14.6 21.0 20.5
1992 321 14.5 22.1 19.9
1993 424 19.7 21.5 23.8
1994 411 19.9 20.7 27
1995 352 17.7 19.9 23.3
1996 352 17.7 19.9 23.3
1997 298 15.5 19.2 24.8
1998 296 13.6 21.8 28.7
1999 276 13.6 20.3 35.1
2000 395 23.7 16.7 37.5
2001 369 23.7 15.6 33.6
2002 398 22.5 17.7 34.4
2003 398 22.5 17.7 34.4
2004 423 23.5 18.0 31.2
2005 410 21.9 18.7 30.2
2006 394 21.9 18.0 35
2007 371 21.2 17.5 34.8
2008 345 22.5 15.3 35.4
2009 351 22.5 15.6 35.3
2010 343 20.6 16.6 33.2
2011 339 19.9 16.9 38.9
2012 348 19.1 18.2 45.1
2013 390 21.3 18.2 40.5
2014 403 23.0 17.5 47.9
2015 432 23.0 18.7 33.8
2016 423 25.0 16.9 100
2017 428 27.0 15.8 100
2018 452 25.1 17.9 100
2019 482 25.8 18.6 28
2020 475 27.2 17.4 13.7
2021 416 24.7 16.8 n/a
2022 429 27.3 15.6 n/a
2023 463 27.3 16.9 n/a
2024 418 29.7 14.0 36.6

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 Paxson School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $8,643
2021 $12,051
2022 $11,753
2023 $11,703

Data source: Montana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Paxson 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.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 26th of 123 Elementary schoolsRanks 10th of 332 Elementary schools
 18.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students482463
 3.9%
African American1612
 25%
American Indian3642
 16.7%
Asian74
 42.9%
Hispanic2037
 85%
Pacific Islander11
White402362
 10%
Two or More Races05


Schools Near Paxson School









Frequently Asked Questions about Paxson School

Yes! Paxson School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 10th of 332 Montana elementary schools.

Students at Paxson School are 78% White, 8% Hispanic, 7% American Indian, 3% African American, 2% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 418 students attended Paxson School.

Students who attend Paxson School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Washington Middle School
High : Hellgate 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.





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