Approximately 51% of public preschool students in Montana are eligible for free lunch (2026).
The public preschools with the highest eligible for free lunch are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public preschool with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Montana is Arrow Creek Elementary School, Ashland School, and Alberton Elementary School, among others each with 100% of students eligible.
Eligible for Free Lunch Range: 100%
100%
Avg. Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Public Preschools Eligible For Free Lunch in Montana (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Eligible for Free Lunch
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Alberton Elementary School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
306 Railroad Ave
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-4413
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-4413
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
36 Upper Ruby River Rd
Alder, MT 59710
(406) 842-5285
Alder, MT 59710
(406) 842-5285
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Arlee Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
72220 Fyant Street
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Arrow Creek Elementary School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
612 Away Kurwak St.
Pryor, MT 59066
(406) 259-8011
Pryor, MT 59066
(406) 259-8011
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Ashland School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
8 Old Mission Road
Ashland, MT 59003
(406) 784-2568
Ashland, MT 59003
(406) 784-2568
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Babb School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
4063 Hwy 89 N
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 732-5539
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 732-5539
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Barbara Gilligan School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
530 5th St.
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3318
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3318
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Belfry School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
200 Wisconsin
Belfry, MT 59008
(406) 664-3319
Belfry, MT 59008
(406) 664-3319
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Box Elder School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
205 Main Street
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-3222
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-3222
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Bridger Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
106 North 4th Street
Bridger, MT 59014
(406) 662-3588
Bridger, MT 59014
(406) 662-3588
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Broadview School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
13935 1st Street
Broadview, MT 59015
(406) 667-2337
Broadview, MT 59015
(406) 667-2337
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Charlo Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
404 1st Ave West
Charlo, MT 59824
(406) 644-2206
Charlo, MT 59824
(406) 644-2206
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Crow Agency School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
Ammaachimuua Street
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 638-2252
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 638-2252
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Deerfield School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
Deerfield Colony
Lewistown, MT 59457
(406) 538-3852
Lewistown, MT 59457
(406) 538-3852
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Desmet School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
6355 Padre Lane
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Dixon Elementary School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
411 B Street
Dixon, MT 59831
(406) 246-3566
Dixon, MT 59831
(406) 246-3566
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Dodson School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
124 First Ave W
Dodson, MT 59524
(406) 383-4362
Dodson, MT 59524
(406) 383-4362
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Drummond School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
108 W Edwards
Drummond, MT 59832
(406) 288-3283
Drummond, MT 59832
(406) 288-3283
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
East Evergreen School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-4
585 E. Evergreen
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
East Glacier Park School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
125 Washington St
East Glacier Park, MT 59434
(406) 226-5543
East Glacier Park, MT 59434
(406) 226-5543
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Fort Smith School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
502 Avenue C
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 666-2350
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 666-2350
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Fortine School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
358 Meadow Creek Rd.
Fortine, MT 59918
(406) 882-4531
Fortine, MT 59918
(406) 882-4531
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Frazer Elementary School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
325 6th Street
Frazer, MT 59225
(406) 695-2241
Frazer, MT 59225
(406) 695-2241
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Fromberg School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
319 School Street
Fromberg, MT 59029
(406) 668-7755
Fromberg, MT 59029
(406) 668-7755
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Frontier School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
6996 Roy St.
Wolf Point, MT 59201
(406) 653-2501
Wolf Point, MT 59201
(406) 653-2501
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Glacier Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
451 Tipville Road
Cut Bank, MT 59427
(406) 336-2623
Cut Bank, MT 59427
(406) 336-2623
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
12420 Mt Hwy 324
Dillon, MT 59725
(406) 681-3143
Dillon, MT 59725
(406) 681-3143
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
301 A Street
Greycliff, MT 59033
(406) 932-6641
Greycliff, MT 59033
(406) 932-6641
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-2
314 W 3rd Street
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 665-9340
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 665-9340
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Harlem Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
110 3rd Ave Sw
Harlem, MT 59526
(406) 353-2258
Harlem, MT 59526
(406) 353-2258
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Heart Butte Elementary School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
1 School Road
Heart Butte, MT 59448
(406) 338-2200
Heart Butte, MT 59448
(406) 338-2200
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Helena Flats School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
1000 Helena Flats Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 257-2301
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 257-2301
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
415 Jardine
Jackson, MT 59736
(406) 834-3138
Jackson, MT 59736
(406) 834-3138
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
306 4th Avenue
Judith Gap, MT 59453
(406) 473-2211
Judith Gap, MT 59453
(406) 473-2211
Rank: #1 - 681. - 68.
K William Harvey Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-4
221 4th Ave Nw
Ronan, MT 59864
(406) 676-3390
Ronan, MT 59864
(406) 676-3390
Show 100 more public schools in MT (out of 332 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Montana average of public preschools students eligible for free lunch?
The Montana average of public preschools students eligible for free lunch is 51%% for 2026.
What are the public preschools with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Montana?
The best top-ranked public preschools in Montana include Alberton Elementary School, Alder School and Arlee Elementary School.
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
