Enrollment
90
Elementary
DISTRICT 64 · STATE 167
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·DESMET ELEM·NCES 300888000254
DeSmet School
6355 Padre Lane, Missoula, MT 59802 · (406) 549-4994 · Missoula County
GRADES PK–05ELEMENTARY13-CITYTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL90 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
12.2:1
7 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 11.5:1 · STATE 11.9:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
100%
90 students
DISTRICT 100% · STATE 58%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade
Student demographics
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
School pathway
Students here typically continue to
DeSmet School→DeSmet 6-8
Based on grade levels within DeSmet Elem. Attendance zones can vary; confirm enrollment with the district.
Test scores
EDFacts (federal) 2020-21 . % Proficient (SY 20-21)English Language Arts
44.5%
MT avg 47.2%
Math
34.5%
MT avg 36.0%
What this means: On the EDFacts (federal), Montana's statewide test, about 45 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 35 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Montana schools, those numbers are about 47 and 36.
Source: EDFacts (federal). All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
7-year change
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
90
+7 (+8%) vs 2017
Student : Teacher
12.2:1
was 9.8:1
% White
86%
was 69%
% Hispanic
1%
was 8%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
3%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
About DeSmet School
As a cozy elementary school in Missoula, Montana, DeSmet School works with 90 students from grades pre-K through 5, run under DeSmet Elem. That puts it 46% leaner than the typical public school in Montana, which averages around 167 students.
DeSmet Elem comprises 2 schools with combined enrollment of 127 students; DeSmet School is among them.
Demographically, DeSmet School logs that 86% of students identify as White, making the school strongly White-majority. The remainder reads as 6% multiracial, 3% Asian, 3% Native American. That composition is broadly in line with Missoula County as a whole.
On the income-and-resources front, DeSmet School records 7 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 12.2:1. The state averages about 11.9:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. About 100% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Missoula County runs at roughly 41%, so the school's eligibility rate is higher than the surrounding baseline.
In the area at large, ACS estimates for Missoula County put median household earnings sit near $75,598, 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 5%. DeSmet School is one of 47 public schools in Missoula County (combined enrollment of about 14,099 students).
Nearest neighbor: DeSmet 6-8, around 0.0 miles off. 6 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.
DeSmet School operates from a city-core location.
Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at DeSmet School has rose 8%, going from 83 students in 2018 to 90 in 2025. The White share of enrollment rose from 69% to 86% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio grew from 9.8:1 in 2018 to 12.2:1 today.
In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.
Missoula County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
120,672
Census ACS
Median income
$75,598
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
47%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
5%
Below federal line
Schools in county
47
14,099 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Missoula
- Sentinel High SchoolHigh · 1,365 students
- Hellgate High SchoolHigh · 1,262 students
- Big Sky High SchoolHigh · 1,148 students
- Washington Middle SchoolMiddle · 669 students
- Porter Middle SchoolMiddle · 579 students
- Hellgate El IntermediateMiddle · 517 students
Nearby schools
- DeSmet 6-80.0 mi · 37
- Hellgate Middle School3.1 mi · 326
- Hellgate El Intermediate3.1 mi · 517
- Hellgate Elem Lower Grades3.2 mi · 305
- Hellgate El Primary Grades3.2 mi · 316
- Hawthorne School4.9 mi · 417
Frequently asked questions
About DeSmet SchoolWhat is the total enrollment at DeSmet School?
DeSmet School enrolls approximately 90 students in grades PK-05.
What grades does DeSmet School serve?
DeSmet School serves grades PK-05.
How many teachers does DeSmet School have?
DeSmet School employs 7 FTE teachers, for a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.
What is the student diversity at DeSmet School?
Student demographics at DeSmet School are roughly 86% White, 1% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 6% Two or more.
Who oversees DeSmet School?
DeSmet School is overseen by DeSmet Elem in Missoula County.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.