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.