Cascade Colony School

Summary:

Cascade Colony School is a small public elementary school located in Sun River, Montana, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 16 students. Despite its small size, this school stands out for its consistently strong academic performance, outpacing the state and district averages in both mathematics and reading proficiency.

Cascade Colony School has a unique demographic, with a 100% white student population, which sets it apart from the more diverse nearby schools like Greenfield School and Fairfield Elementary School. However, the school's academic excellence is undeniable, with 63.64% of students proficient or better in mathematics and 72.73% in reading, compared to the state averages of 36.59% and 46.03%, respectively. This strong performance has earned Cascade Colony School a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and a ranking of 13th out of 332 elementary schools in Montana, a significant improvement from its earlier position in the bottom quarter of the state.

While Cascade Colony School's high student-teacher ratio of 32 students per teacher may be a factor in its academic success, the school's location in a rural community and its unique demographic composition likely also play a role in shaping its educational environment. Nonetheless, Cascade Colony School's consistent excellence and steady climb in the statewide rankings suggest that it is providing a quality education to its students, and its performance serves as a benchmark for other schools in the Sun River Valley Elementary School District.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

508 Birdtail Road
Sun River, MT 59483

(406) 264-5104

District: Sun River Valley Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
13^th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $2,754

Students who attend Cascade Colony School usually attend:

Middle:	Sun River Middle School
High:	Simms High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.5

Number of students: 14

Racial breakdown:

White:

100.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 16.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Cascade Colony School ranks better than 96.1% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 94.79. (See more...)

Compare Details Cascade Colony School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2013 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.88. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (100%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cascade Colony School is 12.5. (See more...)

Compare Cascade Colony School employs 1.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cascade Colony School is $2,754.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Sun River Valley Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Sun River Valley Elementary 75^th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Cascade Colony School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MT State Percentile
2010	13.64	215^th	241	10.8%
2011	13.97	222^nd	247	10.1%
2012	13.78	216^th	244	11.5%
2013	13.99	215^th	246	12.6%
2015	33.28	202^nd	287	29.6%
2021	19.68	301^st	356	15.4%
2022	36.46	246^th	329	25.2%
2023	94.79	13^th	332	96.1%

See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Rank History for Cascade Colony School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2013	13.88	140^th	159	11.9%

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

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Enrollment information for Cascade Colony 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	12	12
1991	12	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	12
1992	12	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	13
1993	13	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	13
1994	18	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	18
1995	21	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	21
1996	21	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	21
1997	22	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	22
1998	21	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	21
1999	24	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	24
2000	25	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	25
2001	27	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	27
2002	27	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	27
2003	27	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	27
2004	22	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	22
2005	23	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	23
2006	25	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	25
2007	25	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	25
2008	24	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	24
2009	25	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	25
2010	26	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	26
2011	24	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	24
2012	26	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	26
2013	27	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	27
2014	24	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	24
2015	22	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	22
2016	23	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	23
2017	19	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	19
2018	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16
2019	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18
2020	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18
2021	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14
2022	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16
2023	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16
2024	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14

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 Cascade Colony School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	12	2.0	6.0	n/a
1991	12	1.0	12.0	0
1992	13	1.0	13.0	n/a
1993	13	1.0	13.0	0
1994	18	1.0	18.0	0
1995	21	1.0	21.0	0
1996	21	1.0	21.0	0
1997	22	1.0	22.0	0
1998	21	1.0	21.0	0
1999	24	1.0	24.0	0
2000	25	1.4	17.9	0
2001	27	1.4	19.3	0
2002	27	1.1	24.5	0
2003	27	1.1	24.5	0
2004	22	1.1	20.0	0
2005	23	2.0	11.5	n/a
2006	25	2.0	12.5	n/a
2007	25	2.0	12.5	n/a
2008	24	2.0	12.0	n/a
2009	25	2.0	12.5	n/a
2010	26	2.0	13.0	n/a
2011	24	1.8	12.9	n/a
2012	26	2.0	13.0	0
2013	27	2.1	12.6	0
2014	24	2.0	12.0	0
2015	22	2.0	11.0	0
2016	23	1.0	23.0	0
2017	19	2.0	9.5	0
2018	16	2.2	7.1	0
2019	18	2.2	8.0	16.7
2020	18	1.2	14.4	n/a
2021	14	1.0	14.0	n/a
2022	16	1.0	16.0	n/a
2023	16	0.5	32.0	n/a
2024	14	1.1	12.5	n/a

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 Cascade Colony School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	12	2.0	6.0	n/a
1991	12	1.0	12.0	0
1992	13	1.0	13.0	n/a
1993	13	1.0	13.0	0
1994	18	1.0	18.0	0
1995	21	1.0	21.0	0
1996	21	1.0	21.0	0
1997	22	1.0	22.0	0
1998	21	1.0	21.0	0
1999	24	1.0	24.0	0
2000	25	1.4	17.9	0
2001	27	1.4	19.3	0
2002	27	1.1	24.5	0
2003	27	1.1	24.5	0
2004	22	1.1	20.0	0
2005	23	2.0	11.5	n/a
2006	25	2.0	12.5	n/a
2007	25	2.0	12.5	n/a
2008	24	2.0	12.0	n/a
2009	25	2.0	12.5	n/a
2010	26	2.0	13.0	n/a
2011	24	1.8	12.9	n/a
2012	26	2.0	13.0	0
2013	27	2.1	12.6	0
2014	24	2.0	12.0	0
2015	22	2.0	11.0	0
2016	23	1.0	23.0	0
2017	19	2.0	9.5	0
2018	16	2.2	7.1	0
2019	18	2.2	8.0	16.7
2020	18	1.2	14.4	n/a
2021	14	1.0	14.0	n/a
2022	16	1.0	16.0	n/a
2023	16	0.5	32.0	n/a
2024	14	1.1	12.5	n/a

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 Cascade Colony School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2021	$10,619
2022	$11,653
2023	$2,754

Data source: Montana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cascade Colony 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	18	16	11.1%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	0	0
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	18	16	11.1%
Two or More Races	0	0

Schools Near Cascade Colony 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
Cascade Colony School	Public	PK, KG-8	508 Birdtail Road	Sun River	59483	Cascade County	Sun River Valley Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 264-5104	14	1	12.5		14 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	94.8	13^th of 332 public elementary schools	96.1%		36.5	246^th of 329 public elementary schools	25.2%	233	63.6	72.7		$2,754
Fort Shaw Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	School Loop Road	Fort Shaw	59443	Cascade County	Sun River Valley Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 264-5110	106	10	10.4	41.5%	93 (87.7%)	1 (0.9%)	1 (0.9%)	1 (0.9%)	7 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.8%)	78.2	74^th of 332 public elementary schools	77.7%		86.9	52^nd of 329 public elementary schools	84.2%	22	55.6	50.0	52.6	$17,517
Fairhaven Colony	Public	PK, KG-8	9 Miles SW of Ulm	Ulm	59485	Cascade County	Ulm Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 866-3313	33	2	14.6		32 (97.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19.3	283^rd of 332 public elementary schools	14.8%		16	295^th of 329 public elementary schools	10.3%	12	16.0	32.0		$7,985
Cascade School	Public	PK, KG-5	321 Central Ave W	Cascade	59421	Cascade County	Cascade Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 468-2671	137	11	12.5	39.4%	119 (86.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.8%)	76.8	81^st of 332 public elementary schools	75.6%		83.2	68^th of 329 public elementary schools	79.3%	13	45.7	54.3	53.9	$10,513
Greenfield School	Public	PK, KG-6	590 Hwy 431	Fairfield	59436	Teton County	Greenfield Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 467-2433	62	5	11.5	40.3%	54 (87.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	89.6	30^th of 332 public elementary schools	91.0%		96.2	12^th of 329 public elementary schools	96.4%	18	55.3	68.4		$17,673
Fairfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	13 7th Street	Fairfield	59436	Teton County	Fairfield Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 467-2425	168	12	14.5	38.1%	164 (97.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	89.5	31^st of 332 public elementary schools	90.7%		84.8	60^th of 329 public elementary schools	81.8%	29	60.0	65.6	55.6	$12,045
Ulm School	Public	PK, KG-5	6 Ulm-Vaughn Road	Ulm	59485	Cascade County	Ulm Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 866-3313	84	8	10.9	28.6%	77 (91.7%)	1 (1.2%)	2 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	67.6	111^th of 332 public elementary schools	66.6%		89.5	34^th of 329 public elementary schools	89.7%	77	41.0	51.3	46.7	$11,242
Vaughn School	Public	PK, KG-6	480 Central Avenue	Vaughn	59487	Cascade County	Vaughn Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 965-2231	112	8	14.3	100.0%	81 (72.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (10.7%)	1 (0.9%)	9 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (8.0%)	48	195^th of 332 public elementary schools	41.3%		34.7	252^nd of 329 public elementary schools	23.4%	57	23.4	39.1	50.0	$12,332
Auchard Creek School	Public	PK, KG-8	9605 Hwy 287	Wolf Creek	59648	Lewis and Clark County	Auchard Creek Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 562-3528	16	1	16.0	81.3%	16 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				$15,400
Hillcrest Colony Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	1124 Wilson Road	Power	59468	Teton County	Vaughn Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 463-2236	12	1	12.0		12 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				$14,861

Frequently Asked Questions about Cascade Colony School

Is Cascade Colony School a good school?

Yes! Cascade Colony School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 13^th of 332 Montana elementary schools.

What district is Cascade Colony School in?

Sun River Valley Elementary

What schools do graduates of Cascade Colony School attend?

Students who attend Cascade Colony School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sun River Middle School
High : Simms High School

What is the racial makeup of Cascade Colony School?

Students at Cascade Colony School are 100% White.

How many students attend Cascade Colony School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 14 students attended Cascade Colony 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.