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Cardwell School

Summary:

Cardwell School is a small, high-performing elementary school in Cardwell, MT, serving grades PK-8 with just 40 students. Despite its small size, Cardwell School stands out for its diverse student population, exceptional academic performance, and low student-teacher ratio - making it one of the top-ranked elementary schools in the state.

Cardwell School has a significantly more diverse student body compared to nearby schools, with 82.5% White students, 5% Hispanic, 5% Native American, and 5% two or more races. This diversity likely contributes to a richer learning environment. Academically, Cardwell students consistently outperform the state averages in both mathematics and reading proficiency, with 50% and 64.29% of students meeting or exceeding standards, respectively, compared to the state averages of 36.59% and 46.03%. The school's small size allows for a very low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 5.6 to 8 students per teacher - much lower than the 6.6 to 13.9 ratios at nearby schools like Three Forks Elementary School, Willow Creek School, and Harrison School.

Cardwell School's exceptional performance has earned it a ranking among the top 50 elementary schools in Montana for the past two years, placing it in the top 15% statewide. This suggests that the school's small size, diverse population, and personalized approach are delivering exceptional educational outcomes for its students. While the nearby schools in the Three Forks Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary, Harrison K-12 Schools, and Whitehall Elementary districts have their own unique strengths, Cardwell School stands out as a model for small, rural schools in Montana.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 80 Highway 359
       Cardwell, MT  59721

(406) 287-3321

District: Cardwell Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
52nd of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,247 Help


Students who attend Cardwell School usually attend:

High:    Whitehall High School

Student/teacher ratio:  7.4 Help
Number of students:  37

Racial breakdown:

White:
83.8%
Hispanic:
5.4%
American Indian:
5.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  56.8% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Cardwell School ranks better than 84.3% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 83.93. (See more...)
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Compare Details Cardwell School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2004 the calculated Average Standard Score was 51.07. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (83.8%), American Indian (5.4%), Hispanic (5.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 56.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cardwell School is 7.4. (See more...)
Help
Compare Cardwell School employs 5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cardwell School is $14,247.
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Cardwell Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Cardwell Elementary 33rd of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Cardwell School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 46.44 226th 356 36.5%
2022 87.33 44th 329 86.6%
2023 83.93 52nd 332 84.3%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Rank History for Cardwell School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 51.07 99th 171 42.1%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Cardwell 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 Cardwell 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 46 46
1991 50 0 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 53
1992 53 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 53
1993 51 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 51
1994 48 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 48
1995 35 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 37
1996 35 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 37
1997 42 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 44
1998 42 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 44
1999 43 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 45
2000 45 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 47
2001 36 0 1 0 4 n/a n/a 0 41
2002 45 0 0 0 4 n/a n/a 0 49
2003 45 0 0 0 4 n/a n/a 0 49
2004 38 0 0 0 4 n/a n/a 0 42
2005 40 0 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 43
2006 39 1 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 43
2007 44 1 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 48
2008 47 1 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 50
2009 46 1 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 49
2010 44 1 0 0 4 n/a n/a 0 49
2011 46 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 50
2012 44 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 48
2013 39 1 0 2 2 0 1 0 45
2014 40 1 0 2 2 0 1 0 46
2015 40 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 43
2016 41 0 0 3 2 0 1 0 47
2017 42 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 46
2018 43 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 46
2019 34 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 37
2020 30 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 31
2021 29 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 31
2022 30 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 34
2023 33 1 0 2 2 0 2 0 40
2024 31 0 0 2 2 0 2 0 37

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 Cardwell School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 46 4.0 11.5 n/a
1991 53 4.0 13.2 0
1992 53 4.0 13.2 n/a
1993 51 4.8 10.6 0
1994 48 4.7 10.2 0
1995 37 5.3 7.0 0
1996 37 5.3 7.0 0
1997 44 5.0 8.8 0
1998 44 5.0 8.8 0
1999 45 5.3 8.5 n/a
2000 47 5.3 8.9 n/a
2001 41 5.9 6.9 0
2002 49 5.8 8.4 0
2003 49 5.8 8.4 0
2004 42 5.8 7.2 0
2005 43 5.8 7.4 n/a
2006 43 5.8 7.4 n/a
2007 48 5.8 8.3 n/a
2008 50 5.9 8.5 n/a
2009 49 5.9 8.3 n/a
2010 49 5.4 9.0 n/a
2011 50 5.4 9.1 n/a
2012 48 5.4 8.8 0
2013 45 5.4 8.2 0
2014 46 5.4 8.4 0
2015 43 6.0 7.1 0
2016 47 6.0 7.8 93.6
2017 46 5.5 8.3 0
2018 46 5.6 8.1 52.2
2019 37 5.6 6.5 27
2020 31 6.0 5.1 22.6
2021 31 5.0 6.2 n/a
2022 34 6.0 5.6 n/a
2023 40 5.0 8.0 n/a
2024 37 5.0 7.4 56.8

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 Cardwell School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 46 4.0 11.5 n/a
1991 53 4.0 13.2 0
1992 53 4.0 13.2 n/a
1993 51 4.8 10.6 0
1994 48 4.7 10.2 0
1995 37 5.3 7.0 0
1996 37 5.3 7.0 0
1997 44 5.0 8.8 0
1998 44 5.0 8.8 0
1999 45 5.3 8.5 n/a
2000 47 5.3 8.9 n/a
2001 41 5.9 6.9 0
2002 49 5.8 8.4 0
2003 49 5.8 8.4 0
2004 42 5.8 7.2 0
2005 43 5.8 7.4 n/a
2006 43 5.8 7.4 n/a
2007 48 5.8 8.3 n/a
2008 50 5.9 8.5 n/a
2009 49 5.9 8.3 n/a
2010 49 5.4 9.0 n/a
2011 50 5.4 9.1 n/a
2012 48 5.4 8.8 0
2013 45 5.4 8.2 0
2014 46 5.4 8.4 0
2015 43 6.0 7.1 0
2016 47 6.0 7.8 93.6
2017 46 5.5 8.3 0
2018 46 5.6 8.1 52.2
2019 37 5.6 6.5 27
2020 31 6.0 5.1 22.6
2021 31 5.0 6.2 n/a
2022 34 6.0 5.6 n/a
2023 40 5.0 8.0 n/a
2024 37 5.0 7.4 56.8

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 Cardwell School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2021 $15,150
2022 $16,441
2023 $14,246

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Cardwell 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 Students3740
 8.1%
African American01
American Indian12
 100%
Asian00
Hispanic12
 100%
Pacific Islander00
White3433
 2.9%
Two or More Races12
 100%

Schools Near Cardwell School








Frequently Asked Questions about Cardwell School

Students who attend Cardwell School usually go on to attend:

High : Whitehall High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 37 students attended Cardwell School.

Students at Cardwell School are 84% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% American Indian, 5% Two or more races.

Cardwell School ranks 52nd of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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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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