Rattlesnake Elementary School

Rattlesnake Elementary School is an elementary-level community of roomy scale in Missoula, Montana, run under Missoula Elem, caters to 393 students in grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 167 students per school, that is 135% bigger than typical.

Within Missoula Elem, which oversees 14 schools and 5,293 students, Rattlesnake Elementary School is one campus in the system.

Demographically, Rattlesnake Elementary School records that nearly all students (87%) are White. Other groups include 6% Hispanic, 3% multiracial, 2% Native American. That composition is broadly in line with Missoula County as a whole.

Looking at school resources, Staff filings list 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 15.8:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.9:1, putting Rattlesnake Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 32% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Missoula County runs at roughly 41%, so the school's eligibility rate is lower than the surrounding baseline.

In the broader community, the surrounding county (Missoula County) logs that median household income runs about $75,598, about 47% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 5%. Rattlesnake Elementary School is one of 47 public schools in Missoula County (combined enrollment of about 14,099 students).

Lowell School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 2.1 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Rattlesnake Elementary School.

Geographically, the school is in a high-density area.

Looking at the recent track record. Rattlesnake Elementary School's enrollment has declined 18% since 2018, when it stood at 482 (now 393). White enrollment moved from 94% to 87% across the same window. Class-load math has loosened: from 14.1:1 in 2018 to 15.8:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.