Kalispell Elem

Kalispell Elem is a town-based elementary district in Flathead County, Montana, serving 3,095 students across seven schools: six elementary buildings and one middle school. The district experienced a 1.3% enrollment decline from the prior year, representing a slight contraction in student population. With 198 teachers on staff, the district maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1, which aligns closely with typical elementary district configurations.

The district's financial profile shows significant disparity with state benchmarks. Per-pupil spending stands at $6,941 annually, approximately 62% of Montana's state average of $11,207, indicating substantially lower per-student resource allocation. The total operating budget reaches $39.4 million, supported by a diversified revenue structure: 41.3% from local sources, 43.3% from state funding, and 15.4% from federal resources. This revenue mix reflects moderate reliance on local property tax support combined with substantial state contributions.

The funding gap relative to state averages suggests the district operates with constrained resources compared to higher-spending Montana districts. The slight enrollment decline may place additional fiscal pressure if fixed costs remain stable while revenue streams contract proportionally. These structural characteristics indicate Kalispell Elem functions as a resource-limited district managing elementary and middle grade instruction within specific budgetary constraints distinct from wealthier or larger district peer groups.