Cayuse Prairie School

897 Lake Blaine Road
Kalispell, MT 59901

254 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th

School Overview

Cayuse Prairie School, located in the scenic rural outskirts of Kalispell, Montana, is a K-8 public school that serves as a cornerstone for its local community. Known for its intimate, small-town atmosphere, the school emphasizes a supportive learning environment where personalized attention is a priority. Because of its smaller student population, Cayuse Prairie fosters strong relationships between students, teachers, and families, aiming to balance rigorous academic standards with a focus on character development and community values.

The school is deeply integrated into the Flathead Valley, often reflecting the unique culture and outdoor-oriented lifestyle of Western Montana. By offering a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for the transition to high school, Cayuse Prairie balances foundational academic skills with extracurricular opportunities. For families moving to the area, it is frequently viewed as a desirable alternative to larger district schools, providing a "neighborhood school" feel that prioritizes a close-knit, collaborative educational experience.

254

Total Students

17.0

Full-Time Teachers

14.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

32.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cayuse Prairie School
Demographic	Student Count
White	231
Hispanic	13
Two or More	9
American Indian	1

White
231 (90.9%)
Hispanic
13 (5.1%)
Two or More
9 (3.5%)
American Indian
1 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Cayuse Prairie Elem
Phone:	(406)756-4560
Website:	http://cayuseprairie.com
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 6th
Total Students:	254
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	17.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	56
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	26

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 14

Kindergarten 29

Grade 1 27

Grade 2 34

Grade 3 35

Grade 4 28

Grade 5 42

Grade 6 45

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Cayuse Prairie School
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	14
Kindergarten	29
Grade 1	27
Grade 2	34
Grade 3	35
Grade 4	28
Grade 5	42
Grade 6	45

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Cayuse Prairie School
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	125	49.2%
Male	129	50.8%

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th