Lolo Elementary

Q: Is Lolo Elementary a good school?

Lolo Elementary ranks 198 th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Lolo Elementary is a public elementary school in Lolo, MT, serving around 290 students in grades PK-4 and part of the Lolo Elementary District, which is ranked 163 out of 300 districts in Montana and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Lolo Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of around 12:1, the school's academic performance lags behind nearby high-performing schools like Paxson School, Lewis & Clark School, and Chief Charlo School. Lolo Elementary's proficiency rates in Mathematics and Reading on the Montana State Tests are consistently lower than the state averages, and its statewide ranking has declined from 33rd out of 247 Montana elementary schools in 2010-2011 to 198th out of 332 in 2022-2023, with a consistent 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Another notable characteristic of Lolo Elementary is its significantly higher percentage of white students (around 88%) compared to the nearby schools, which have more diverse student populations. This racial homogeneity may be an area to explore in terms of understanding the school's demographics and how it may impact the educational experience and outcomes for students. Despite Lolo Elementary's higher spending per student compared to some nearby schools, this higher investment does not seem to translate into higher academic performance.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

11395 Highway 93 South
Lolo, MT 59847

(406) 273-6686

District: Lolo Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
198^th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,054

Students who attend Lolo Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lolo Middle School
High:	Sentinel High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.8

Number of students: 306

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.5%

Hispanic:

5.6%

Two or more races:

2.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 35.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Lolo Elementary ranks worse than 59.6% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 46.95. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (89.5%), Hispanic (5.6%), two or more races (2.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 35.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lolo Elementary is 12.8. (See more...)

Compare Lolo Elementary employs 23.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lolo Elementary is $18,054.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Lolo Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Lolo Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Lolo Elementary 163^rd of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Lolo Elementary.

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Rank History for Lolo Elementary

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MT State Percentile
2004	69.15	64^th	217	70.5%
2005	53.39	116^th	218	46.8%
2006	69.22	55^th	234	76.5%
2007	62.18	89^th	230	61.3%
2008	56.05	94^th	194	51.5%
2009	75.11	22^nd	190	88.4%
2010	75.30	28^th	241	88.4%
2011	75.45	33^rd	247	86.6%
2012	70.86	48^th	244	80.3%
2013	64.65	76^th	246	69.1%
2016	48.45	101^st	191	47.1%
2017	31.63	79^th	109	27.5%
2018	21.75	100^th	116	13.8%
2019	26.62	94^th	123	23.6%
2021	47.82	221^st	356	37.9%
2022	43.40	224^th	329	31.9%
2023	46.95	198^th	332	40.4%

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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, February 11, 2021

The rankings on this site don't match with our experience. This is an excellent school, with top-notch teachers and staff. This school cares! Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Significantly lacking in communication Close Quote

Enrollment information for Lolo Elementary

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	488	488
1991	451	0	1	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	455
1992	405	1	0	10	37	n/a	n/a	0	453
1993	431	2	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	435
1994	421	4	0	0	5	n/a	n/a	0	430
1995	432	4	4	2	6	n/a	n/a	0	448
1996	432	4	4	2	6	n/a	n/a	0	448
1997	412	2	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	418
1998	396	1	3	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	402
1999	394	2	1	4	5	n/a	n/a	0	406
2000	390	2	1	6	5	n/a	n/a	0	404
2001	405	1	4	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	413
2002	339	2	1	5	5	n/a	n/a	0	352
2003	339	2	1	5	5	n/a	n/a	0	352
2004	362	2	3	1	4	n/a	n/a	0	372
2005	355	8	2	2	7	n/a	n/a	0	374
2006	380	10	2	4	4	n/a	n/a	0	400
2007	368	12	4	4	12	n/a	n/a	0	400
2008	370	9	4	8	9	n/a	n/a	0	400
2009	374	6	5	9	8	n/a	n/a	0	402
2010	387	6	0	8	8	n/a	n/a	0	409
2011	399	7	1	9	10	0	0	0	426
2012	423	5	3	10	8	0	2	0	451
2013	388	1	1	13	4	0	12	0	419
2014	373	1	2	11	3	0	13	0	403
2015	362	3	3	7	5	0	10	0	390
2016	274	2	2	12	1	0	9	0	300
2017	277	2	1	10	1	0	12	0	303
2018	294	2	2	15	3	0	20	0	336
2019	283	3	2	17	3	0	20	0	328
2020	254	1	1	20	4	0	15	0	295
2021	273	1	3	15	3	0	11	0	306
2022	280	1	2	22	3	0	10	0	318
2023	257	1	1	18	4	0	9	0	290
2024	274	0	2	17	3	1	9	0	306

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 Lolo Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	488	26.4	18.4	24.4
1991	455	20.5	22.1	19.3
1992	453	19.0	23.8	23.6
1993	435	22.7	19.2	29.4
1994	430	20.4	21.1	22.8
1995	448	22.1	20.3	26.3
1996	448	22.1	20.3	26.3
1997	418	21.7	19.3	23.4
1998	402	20.3	19.8	28.4
1999	406	19.8	20.5	30.8
2000	404	20.8	19.4	34.2
2001	413	21.9	18.9	29.3
2002	352	22.2	15.9	34.7
2003	352	22.2	15.9	34.7
2004	372	23.1	16.1	31.5
2005	374	22.9	16.3	40.9
2006	400	21.9	18.3	39.3
2007	400	22.9	17.5	42.3
2008	400	24.9	16.1	42
2009	402	24.9	16.1	40.5
2010	409	24.8	16.4	39.9
2011	426	26.0	16.3	43
2012	451	26.3	17.0	38.1
2013	419	25.2	16.5	46.3
2014	403	26.3	15.2	44.7
2015	390	26.0	15.0	44.9
2016	300	23.0	13.0	43.7
2017	303	25.0	12.0	41.3
2018	336	23.2	14.4	42
2019	328	25.2	12.9	44.2
2020	295	23.2	12.6	35.6
2021	306	23.7	12.8	n/a
2022	318	24.7	12.8	n/a
2023	290	24.2	11.9	n/a
2024	306	23.8	12.8	35.9

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 Lolo Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	488	26.4	18.4	24.4
1991	455	20.5	22.1	19.3
1992	453	19.0	23.8	23.6
1993	435	22.7	19.2	29.4
1994	430	20.4	21.1	22.8
1995	448	22.1	20.3	26.3
1996	448	22.1	20.3	26.3
1997	418	21.7	19.3	23.4
1998	402	20.3	19.8	28.4
1999	406	19.8	20.5	30.8
2000	404	20.8	19.4	34.2
2001	413	21.9	18.9	29.3
2002	352	22.2	15.9	34.7
2003	352	22.2	15.9	34.7
2004	372	23.1	16.1	31.5
2005	374	22.9	16.3	40.9
2006	400	21.9	18.3	39.3
2007	400	22.9	17.5	42.3
2008	400	24.9	16.1	42
2009	402	24.9	16.1	40.5
2010	409	24.8	16.4	39.9
2011	426	26.0	16.3	43
2012	451	26.3	17.0	38.1
2013	419	25.2	16.5	46.3
2014	403	26.3	15.2	44.7
2015	390	26.0	15.0	44.9
2016	300	23.0	13.0	43.7
2017	303	25.0	12.0	41.3
2018	336	23.2	14.4	42
2019	328	25.2	12.9	44.2
2020	295	23.2	12.6	35.6
2021	306	23.7	12.8	n/a
2022	318	24.7	12.8	n/a
2023	290	24.2	11.9	n/a
2024	306	23.8	12.8	35.9

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 Lolo Elementary

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$10,150
2021	$12,346
2022	$17,162
2023	$18,054

Data source: Montana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lolo Elementary

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.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 94^th of 123 Elementary schools	Ranks 198^th of 332 Elementary schools	16.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	328	290	11.6%
African American	3	1	66.7%
American Indian	3	4	33.3%
Asian	2	1	50%
Hispanic	17	18	5.9%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	283	257	9.2%
Two or More Races	20	9	55%

Schools Near Lolo Elementary

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
Lolo Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	11395 Highway 93 South	Lolo	59847	Missoula County	Lolo Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 273-6686	306	24	12.8	35.9%	274 (89.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.6%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.9%)	46.9	198^th of 332 public elementary schools	40.4%		43.4	224^th of 329 public elementary schools	31.9%	26	33.3	43.0		$18,054
Jeannette Rankin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5150 Bigfork Rd.	Missoula	59803	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4010	463	27	16.9	26.6%	421 (90.9%)	4 (0.9%)	11 (2.4%)	12 (2.6%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.2%)	92.9	20^th of 332 public elementary schools	94.0%		93.7	19^th of 329 public elementary schools	94.2%	1	69.3	65.1	61.3	$12,786
Chief Charlo School	Public	PK, KG-5	5600 Longview Dr	Missoula	59803	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4005	417	28	14.7	39.6%	350 (83.9%)	6 (1.4%)	23 (5.5%)	5 (1.2%)	12 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.0%)	91	23^rd of 332 public elementary schools	93.1%		87.8	42^nd of 329 public elementary schools	87.2%	19	62.8	71.9	53.1	$13,616
Target Range School	Public	PK, KG-6	4095 South Avenue West	Missoula	59804	Missoula County	Target Range Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 549-9239	415	27	15.4	36.1%	351 (84.6%)	3 (0.7%)	19 (4.6%)	7 (1.7%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.0%)	72.1	94^th of 332 public elementary schools	71.7%		81.4	72^nd of 329 public elementary schools	78.1%	22	43.8	57.5	44.6	$10,248
Russell School	Public	PK, KG-5	3216 Russell Street	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4080	385	30	12.9	59.2%	295 (76.6%)	4 (1.0%)	33 (8.6%)	10 (2.6%)	23 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.2%)	74.3	85^th of 332 public elementary schools	74.4%		76.3	85^th of 329 public elementary schools	74.2%		51.4	59.1	40.4	$14,214
Lewis & Clark School	Public	PK, KG-5	2901 Park	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4035	423	28	14.9	34.8%	350 (82.7%)	5 (1.2%)	18 (4.3%)	7 (1.7%)	26 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.0%)	89.2	33^rd of 332 public elementary schools	90.1%		87	51^st of 329 public elementary schools	84.5%	18	54.3	65.3	60.5	$12,616
Franklin School	Public	PK, KG-5	1910 S. 11th St	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4020	282	26	10.7	71.6%	210 (74.5%)	19 (6.7%)	26 (9.2%)	4 (1.4%)	13 (4.6%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.2%)	56.8	157^th of 332 public elementary schools	52.7%		50.5	193^rd of 329 public elementary schools	41.3%	36	30.3	44.7	50.0	$15,100
Hawthorne School	Public	PK, KG-5	550 Hiberta St.	Missoula	59804	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4025	377	35	10.7	56.8%	299 (79.3%)	5 (1.3%)	20 (5.3%)	8 (2.1%)	27 (7.2%)	2 (0.5%)	16 (4.2%)	84.5	50^th of 332 public elementary schools	84.9%		84.9	59^th of 329 public elementary schools	82.1%	9	50.5	55.4	72.7	$14,756
Paxson School	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Evans	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4055	418	30	14.0	36.6%	327 (78.2%)	14 (3.3%)	34 (8.1%)	3 (0.7%)	29 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.4%)	95.2	10^th of 332 public elementary schools	97.0%		92.7	20^th of 329 public elementary schools	93.9%	10	61.6	71.9	70.3	$11,703
Woodman School	Public	PK, KG-6	18470 Highway 12 West	Lolo	59847	Missoula County	Woodman Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 273-6770	29	4	6.7	10.3%	26 (89.7%)	2 (6.9%)	1 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38.3	229^th of 332 public elementary schools	31.0%		68.5	123^rd of 329 public elementary schools	62.6%	106	26.3	42.1		$14,300

Frequently Asked Questions about Lolo Elementary

What schools do graduates of Lolo Elementary attend?

Students who attend Lolo Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lolo Middle School
High : Sentinel High School

What district is Lolo Elementary in?

Lolo Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Lolo Elementary?

Students at Lolo Elementary are 90% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Lolo Elementary a good school?

Lolo Elementary ranks 198^th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Lolo Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 306 students attended Lolo Elementary.

Rate Lolo Elementary!

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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.