Bissell School

Bissell School is a modestly sized elementary campus in Whitefish, Montana, one of the schools within Olney-Bissell Elem. The school instructs 78 students in grades pre-K through 6. Enrollment runs roughly 53% smaller than the state mean of about 167.

Across the 2 schools in Olney-Bissell Elem (95 students total), Bissell School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Bissell School lists that nearly all students (91%) are White. Beyond that, the school shows 4% multiracial, 3% Hispanic, 3% Pacific Islander. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

Looking at school resources, Bissell School records 9 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 8.9:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 11.9:1 average. About 37% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Flathead County runs at roughly 75%, so the school's eligibility rate is below the surrounding baseline.

In the surrounding community, census data for Flathead County shows median household earnings sit near $73,925, roughly 37% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 5%. Bissell School is one of 48 public schools in Flathead County (combined enrollment of about 14,957 students).

The closest other public school is Bissell 7-8, roughly 0.0 miles away. Within ten miles, there are 6 other public schools, a sparser pattern than typical urban areas.

Bissell School operates from a small-town location.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count expanded 22%: 64 students in 2018 compared to 78 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 75% to 91% across the same window. Class-load math has pulled in: from 11.1:1 in 2018 to 8.9:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around fundraisers, lost-and-found posts, and report-card season. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.