Cherry Valley School

Cherry Valley School is one of the reasonably sized primary schools in Polson, Montana, run under Polson Elem, with 243 students on its rolls from grades pre-K through 1. Enrollment runs roughly 46% bigger than the state mean of about 167.

Cherry Valley School is one of 3 schools operated by Polson Elem, a district that serves 1,075 students overall.

Demographically, Cherry Valley School records that the largest single group is White, at 63% of enrollment; the rest looks like 31% Native American, 3% multiracial, 2% Hispanic. Compared to Lake County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Cherry Valley School has 19 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.6:1. That tracks the state average closely. About 74% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is south of Lake County's rate of about 83%.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Lake County put the typical household earns roughly $63,360 per year, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 12%. Across Lake County's 21 public schools (combined enrollment of about 4,302 students), Cherry Valley School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Linderman School, around 0.5 miles off. Within five miles, there are 3 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a small-town area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count shrank 5%: 257 students in 2018 compared to 243 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share expanded from 54% to 63%.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.