Alder Elem

Situated along 36 Upper Ruby River Road in Alder, Montana, the Alder Elementary School District operates as an active, single-school public district dedicated to serving its remote rural community. Structured as a traditional, non-charter local education agency operating independently of a supervisory union, the district is authorized to provide complete early childhood and elementary instruction spanning prekindergarten through eighth grade. Its quiet, isolated geographic setting in Madison County creates an intimate educational landscape where local traditions and community ties strongly inform the school environment.

During the 2024–2025 academic year, federal data highlights the district's exceptionally small-scale learning environment, maintaining a total enrollment of just 11 students across its active early primary grades. To support this small student body, the district maintains a robust operational foundation with 9.3 total full-time equivalent (FTE) staff members. This includes 4.2 FTE teaching positions, 0.2 FTE instructional aides, and 4.9 FTE specialized support staff. For parents, students, and educational researchers alike, the Alder Elementary School District provides a unique model of micro-schooling, characterized by an enviable student-to-teacher ratio that allows for highly personalized learning and deeply individualized student attention.