Excellence in Education
Empowering the minds of the future to change the world
Whether you’re coming here for school or your children will attend one of the many exceptional schools here, Great Falls knows the importance of education for the growth of hard-working individuals and for the development of the workforce ready for the world.
For elementary students and high schoolers, Great Falls public schools, private schools and all their teachers go above and beyond for the personal and academic success of their students.
The community of Great Falls fiercely supports our schools: in 2020, voters passed a $1.75 million elementary levy to support teachers and students – that is the Montana way, after all.
Public Schools
“All students engaged in learning today… for life tomorrow” is the vision of Great Falls Public Schools (GFPS). From the Transitional Kindergarten program through 12th Grade, students are prepared for the next stages of life through comprehensive programming and extensive extra- and co-curricular offerings. GFPS elementary students consistently outperform the rest of the state on the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBACs) and high schoolers excel in academic and extracurricular endeavors.
Over the past 10 years, over 1,000 children have benefited from the inclusive early learning opportunities available at Great Falls Public Schools’ Early Learning Family Center, a transitional kindergarten for children ages 3-5 who meet eligibility criteria. The program is located at the Early Learning Family Center.
The Great Falls Public School District includes fifteen K-6 elementary schools, two 7-8th grade Middle Schools and three High Schools (including one alternative high school).
Elementary Schools K-6
Chief Joseph Elementary
Giant Springs Elementary
Lewis & Clark Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
Longfellow Elementary
Loy Elementary
Meadow Lark Elementary
Morningside Elementary
Mountain View Elementary
Riverview Elementary
Sacajawea Elementary
Sunnyside Elementary
Valley View Elementary
West Elementary
Whittier Elementary
Middle Schools 7-8
North Middle School
East Middle School
High Schools 9-12
C.M. Russell High School
Great Falls High School
Paris Gibson Education Center
Find which public school is in your future neighborhood
Private Schools
Great Falls has a variety of affordable private education options for your family. Holy Trinity Catholic Schools – including Our Lady of Lourdes, Holy Spirit and Great Falls Central Catholic High School – are a Christ-centered academic community focused on creating a culture of faithful disciples, academic achievers and community leaders, transforming youth to be stewards for a better world.
Great Falls’ several Christian schools offer a community of unity and more personalized academics, ensuring the success of all children. Homeschooling is also an option, as Montana has one of the most challenging homeschool programs in the country.
Catholic Schools
Elementary and Middle Schools PreK-8
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Holy Spirit Catholic School
High School 9-12
Great Falls Central Catholic High School
Christian Schools
PreK-12
Five Falls Christian School
Foothills Community Christian School
Treasure State Academy
Homeschooling in Great Falls
Montana is a homeschooling haven for parents who want to teach their children themselves. Parents aren’t required to have any special qualifications, nor do students have to take part in yearly standardized testing.
High school students also have the right to attend classes at the Great Falls Public Schools and often participate on sports teams and other extracurriculars in the area.
Explore Montana homeschooling organizations and support groups here.
Higher Education
The University of Providence and Great Falls College – Montana State University are Great Falls’ two institutions of higher learning, and both play a significant role in the fabric of Great Falls.
University of Providence
As an expression of the teaching of Jesus Christ, the mission of the University of Providence is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain an education for living and for making a living.
The University of Providence (UP) offers Associate, Bachelor, and Masters programs with the flexibility of online and in-person coursework.
UP’s unique Health Professions programs are designed to meet the needs of healthcare leaders and caregivers within Providence Health and Services, and in other healthcare organizations. The School of Health Professions is a great fit for those seeking a career or advancement in healthcare.
Great Falls College – Montana State University
Great Falls College is affordable and career-focused. Small class sizes mean plenty of one-on-one instruction and opportunities to collaborate with peers.
The health sciences division offers fantastic career opportunities in high-demand fields such as nursing, surgical technology, physical therapy assistant, and dental hygiene/assisting. Prepare for a rewarding career in accounting, computer technology, welding, industrial technology or renewable energy. The Cyber Security program is endorsed by Homeland Security and NSA (and was nationally recognized in 2020 for academic excellence!)
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Montana
With 100,000 square feet devoted to state-of-the-art medical education, students here will receive interactive, skills-based learning. We have an onsite research laboratory, osteopathic manipulation lab, anatomy, holographic, plastination, and cadaver lab. Class time is dedicated to critical thinking and problem-solving and our approach meets most students’ learning styles.
At TouroCOM Montana students will learn to treat the patient as a whole: mind, body, and spirit. The new facility was designed for students of the future while considering the unique community and learning atmosphere of Great Falls. TouroCOM Montana is located in the medical corridor, within walking distance to Benefis East Health System and McLaughlin Research Institute.
Job Advancement
Nursing Programs
Learn more about local programs in Great Falls that can help you land a rewarding career in nursing:
Welding Programs
Welders in Great Falls get to work for global companies offering great benefits and above national average pay. See how you could unlock a career in welding in a matter of months with Great Falls College Welding Program.
